The SNSM station in Saint-Florent is celebrating its 130th anniversary!

On Sunday 8th December 1889, the Saint-Florent lifeboat station was inaugurated,

this year marks its 130th anniversary!

History of the SAINT-FLORENT SNSM Station

the shipwreck of the Sparkling to Lavezzi, on 15 February 1855, which is at the origin of The creation by Napoleon III, by decree, of the Central Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked Persons recognised as being in the public interest on 17 November 1865, completed in 1875 by the Breton Rescue Hospitallers.

It's the shipwreck of the Tasmania, English steamship, on the Wolves' Reefs on the night of the 16th to 17th April 1887, which made people aware that Corsica was completely lacking in sea rescue facilities.

In 1888, the Bonifacio and Bastia stations were inaugurated with the whaleboat «La Providence» and the whaleboat «La Colomba», respectively.
On 13 May 1889, the Ajaccio station was inaugurated with the lifeboat «La Secourable».
On Sunday, 8th December 1889, the Saint-Florent station was inaugurated at the same time as the whaleboat «Immaculée Conception» was blessed by Father Paganacce, parish priest.

The godmother is Miss Madeleine Farinole and the godfather is her cousin François de Morati.

In 130 years, the Saint-Florent station has been presided over, among others, by:

Tiburce de Morati, mayor of St-Florent and general councillor until 1914; ;
Hilaire Feydel from 1918 to 1926, master mariner; ;
Robert Feydel from 1932 to 1935, master mariner; ;
Marcel Feydel from 1964 to 1975, councillor-general; ;
Marcel Feydel from 1975 to 2011, honorary president since, former mayor of Saint-Florent; ;
Marc Gonzales from 2012 to 2018; ;
Daniel Muller since 18 May 2018.

He has had many bosses :

Sylvestre Pietri 1890-1892
François Scotto 1893-1913
Alessandrini 1919-1925

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Louis Brignole 1965
Pierre Granarolo 1965
Pierre Agostini 1972
Jean Dizabeau 1978 - 1997
Stéphane Bracq 1997-2004
André Costa 2004 – 2010
Daniel Muller 2010 – 2018
Sauveur MASCIA since 15 May 2018

Since its inauguration in 1889, the Saint-Florent lifeboat station experienced a fleet of increasingly efficient ships, thus following the evolution of the port, the development of pleasure boating, the increase in interventions and increasingly offshore navigation:

2 wooden whaling boats «Immaculée Conception» then «Charles et Henri»,
Alix, a quick zodiac,
a Boston Whaler «THE SWORDFISH» - SNS 312,
the first «CONCA D'ORU» – SNS 205 star of 2^th class of 1977,
«CONCA D'ORU II» - SNS 126 Star of 1^Era class in June 1990, with the «CONCARELLA» – SNS 403 Boston Whaler
the «JACQUES ET MICHELE» – SNS 2027 a Bombard, donated by a yachtsman in support of the SNS 126.
The «CONCA D'ORU» – SNS 165 since May 13, 2017

The fire and the mobilisation

On 31 October 2014, a fire completely destroyed 3 ships in the port. whose CONCA D’ORU II, which had recently received 2 new engines and a complete overhaul.

Thanks to the realisation that Saint-Florent could not remain without a means of sea rescue and to the general mobilisation of all partners, State, Territorial Collectivity, Departmental, elected officials, administrations, leisure boaters, local personalities and businesses who have joined forces with the SNSM, the construction of this 1^Era new generation 15m class «CONCA D'ORU» – SNS 165, combining performance and safety, unsinkable and self-righting, in 2 years at the Bernard shipyard in Locmiquelic could be finalised.

During construction, the station was able to operate with the reserve all-weather lifeboat «NOTRE DAME DE LA SERRA II» – SNS 123, which was 35 years old.

The implementation of this V1NG patrol boat requires a crew (always volunteer), experienced and increasingly qualified to carry out maritime assistance and rescue missions, in collaboration with aerial, maritime, or land resources, available to CROSS LA GARDE and CROSS MED IN CORSICA 24/7, 365 days a year.

Some team members have more than 35 years of service with the crew. from the Saint-Florent sea rescue station and allow the transmission to the younger generation of the values that are theirs« Strength and Hope ».

This is the third ferry of this type in Corsica after AJACCIO in 2005 and PORTO-VECCHIO in 2010.

45 assistance operations have already been successfully carried out since his arrival from Port Saint-Louis du Rhône to Saint-Florent on 13 May 2017.

2017 was the 50th anniversary of the SNSM resulting from the merger of The Central Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked Persons and some Breton Lifesavers in 1967.
2017 The SNSM was declared Major National Cause.
2019 marks the 130th anniversary of the creation of the SAINT-FLORENT Sea Rescue Station

Thanks to Mrs Jacquouton for the text and photos.

To support them, you can click here to download the donation form (tax-deductible!). You can return it to the address provided, or drop it off at the Saint-Florent harbourmaster's office or at the Saint-Florent SNSM letterbox located at the back of the paid car park.