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Safety at sea also depends on the freedom of maneuver of rescue units. On the evening of January 13th, this obvious fact was put to the test in the Caronte channel in Martigues, when an SNSM launch became trapped by nets set in the middle of the waterway.
A routine manoeuvre goes awry
After nightfall, at around 7pm, the SNS launch Notre Dame des Marins sails into the Caronte channel. The crew meets up with the Carro SNSM station for a joint exercise session, with assistance and towing maneuvers planned.
In the second half of the channel, in the direction of Port de Bouc, the ship's two propellers slammed into nets. The launch was immobilized.
Fishermen on the run, all lights out
According to Christophe Vincent, president of the Martigues SNSM station, a boat was seen in the immediate vicinity, with no navigation lights. Just as the speedboat became entangled in the nets, this black silhouette left the area.
As far as the salvors were concerned, the facts of the case pointed more to poaching than to legal fishing. The deployment of nets in a narrow channel frequented by shipping traffic poses a direct danger to navigation.
Towing and securing the vessel
The Carro SNSM quickly intervened. The Martigues speedboat was taken in tow, assisted by the semirigid SNS 682. The whole unit was brought safely back to the Maritima port.
Thanks to the partnership between SNSM and the port, the craning required to dry the vessel is carried out at no cost to the station, which relies exclusively on donations.
Damage noted after refloating
Once the nets had been removed from the propellers, dynamic tests were carried out on the Etang de Berre. They revealed a leak in one of the propeller shafts. Malfunctions had already been noted on the echo sounder, which delivered inconsistent data after the incident.
At this stage, the speedboat has been declared unavailable for an indefinite period, to allow time to assess the precise extent of the repairs required.
A complaint and a warning message
The SNSM de Martigues has lodged a complaint. In addition to the material damage, the rescuers are denouncing the deliberate endangerment of maritime traffic and, even more seriously, a direct attack on the sea rescue chain.
To immobilize a rescue launch, even involuntarily, is to deprive an entire sector of a means of rescue. A stark reminder that illegal practices at sea are not limited to the plundering of fish stocks, but can have immediate consequences for the safety of sailors.
