A last mooring in Molène before departure
On Saturday May 3, 2025, the lifeboat SNS 065 Jean Cam will make a final stopover on the island of Molène. This will be the last time this lifeboat, one of the oldest in the SNSM fleet, will dock on the island whose waters it has protected for several decades. From 9 a.m., locals and visitors will be able to climb aboard for a final visit, before the lifeboat casts off at 10 a.m. for its final crossing to the mainland.
End of mission for Iroise veteran
Commissioned in 1988, the 17.60-meter all-weather dinghy has weathered storms to provide rescue services at sea. Its withdrawal from service is not synonymous with abandonment: on its arrival in Brest, it will be placed temporarily on the pontoon, before moving to the Moulin Blanc careening area in June 2025. There, its engines will be dismantled and the boat cleaned up, in preparation for its future public display.
Guy Rocher, president of the Molène SNSM station, explains: "It will be dismantled and depolluted, to start a new life at Océanopolis, instead of a scrapping scheme. "A gesture unanimously welcomed by residents and team members alike.
A new life at the heart of Océanopolis
The Jean Cam will be on display at Océanopolis, Brest's famous ocean discovery park, from early 2027. It will thus become a tangible witness to rescue at sea, offering visitors an immersion in the history of French maritime rescue.
The transfer to Océanopolis is seen as recognition of the SNSM's human and technical commitment to the demanding conditions of the Iroise Sea.
The next generation already on Molène
Since February 1, 2025, the canoe Jean Cam II has taken over on Molène. More modern, it will ensure the continuity of rescue operations in this complex area. Her official christening is scheduled for May 17, 2025, a symbolic date marking the handover between two generations of rescue units.
