SNSM lifeguard charged in court
The sinking of the Breiz shellfish boat on January 14, 2021, in the Bay of Seine, cost the lives of the 3 sailors on board. It occurred during towing by the Ouistreham SNSM boat, mobilized to assist the fishing vessel in difficulty following damage to the helm, and has given rise to an unprecedented trial. The captain of the SNSM speedboat, Philippe Capdeville, was called to account for his decisions during the towing operation. The trial, before the Maritime Court of Le Havre, aroused the interest of the entire maritime community. While judgment has been reserved until June 4, 2024, the public prosecutor has ordered a one-year suspended prison sentence and a two-year sailing ban, citing "negligence" during the intervention.
Several SNSM boats unavailable
The support of many SNSM volunteers for the captain of the Ouistreham dinghy is not lacking. In addition to the statements of support, several coastal stations, such as Deauville-Trouville and Loguivy de la Mer, have declared themselves unavailable, informing the CROSS that they will not respond to requests for assistance, some for the duration of the trial and others until the verdict.
The role of government and volunteers in sea rescue
For the majority of those involved, it's not so much that the SNSM volunteer sailor is to blame - each sailor assumes his or her own potential responsibilities - but that he or she alone is to blame. Indeed, does the State's delegation of the safeguarding of life at sea to volunteers absolve it of all responsibility? SNSM volunteers deplore the fact that no assistance was given to Philippe Capdeville in the legal proceedings, and are worried about the consequences. A sailing ban for volunteers, some of whom are professional sailors, can have serious consequences.
While some fear a cascade of resignations in the event of conviction, it is the volunteer model itself that could be shaken. Eric Bothorel, Member of Parliament for Côtes-d'Armor, spoke to our colleagues in Ouest France about the possibility of introducing "functional protection" to avoid individual prosecution.
In the event of a shortage of volunteers, the State would have to take over again, a loss of the spirit of solidarity among seafarers that all sailors and yachtsmen would be sorry to see...
