additional 3 million euros to balance the budget
The Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer, whose mission is to protect boaters, operates on a volunteer basis and thanks to the donations of its 75,000 donors, who provide 75% of its annual operating budget.
Today, the fleet is aging and the budgets collected are not sufficient to carry out the mission that the SNSM has given itself within its 219 stations, spread along the coast. In 2014, the State had then provided support to the association by participating in the operating budget. Unfortunately, this budget is not enough to renew the fleet and train rescuers. It lacks 2 million euros to renovate the boats, which are nearly 25 years old, and 1 million euros to train the rescuers. Whereas 30 years ago, the State contributed 40% of the SNSM's budget, today it only represents 10%.
However, the State is responsible for sea rescue, even if in France it is provided in an atypical way, by an association and volunteers. If the budget is not closed, stations will end up closing, boats will not be renewedâeuros¦ However, the SNSM, which has 7000 volunteers, including 4400 lifeguards on board, carries out 5000 interventions per year, rescuing about 7000 people per year.
"We have just prepared our 2017 budget and it turns out that we are not able to finance our investments. We are short 3 million euros: 2 for new construction and modernizations, plus 1 million for training of rescuers and operation of sites. We are at the breaking point permanently and the situation is going to get worse, as we anticipate a shortfall of 5 million euros per year starting in 2018." said Xavier de la Gorce to Mer & Marine.
Renewing the fleet
To ensure the sustainability of the association, it has reduced its investments as the president of the SNSM explains to Mer & Marine "To cope with this situation, we were forced this year to reduce our investments, which were supposed to be 6 million euros and were reduced to 4.5 million. We have mainly honored the deliveries of RIBs to the stations. But this measure is only a postponement and we are faced with the wave of renewal of our old all-weather boats, 23 of which are to be replaced in the next 10 years."
As an example, the new Canot Tout Temps boat on the island of Sein required an investment of 1.4 million euros, entirely financed by a legacy. But this situation is very rare. However, volunteer rescuers give their time, sometimes putting their lives at risk to save others, and it is therefore important that they have tools worthy of the name.
To replace these all-weather boats, it will be necessary to invest 6 million euros per year for 10 years, an amount that is usually used for all SNSM investments. " That's why we have to go up to 8 million euros of investments in 2017 and 9 million for the following years." said Xavier de la Gorce.
Training of lifeguards at sea
On the other hand, training costs are increasing. Today, rescuers are no longer from the professional navy and are often boaters. However, it is not enough to be a good navigator to save someone, you must also be able to ensure their survival. It is therefore essential to train volunteer rescuers.
The Training pole, created in 2011, is working more and more and is going towards the trend of developing even more. Because it is not just training courses on driving a motorboat that are provided, but also training on team management, search and rescue, stress managementâeuros¦
State action expected soon
Even if the State does not have the vocation to finance the SNSM totally, it is important that it can finance a rather important part of the association, as Xavier de la Gorce explains "It would have to be 7 to 8 million, or 25 percent of our budget."
At the beginning of the year, the Government commissioned Chantal Guittet, Member of Parliament for Finistère, to conduct a study on the sustainability of the SNSM model. Her conclusions are expected in early July. The president of the SNSM expects the state to have made a decision between the first days of July and September 15.
