This Wednesday, April 22nd, four charter companies (Arawak, Captain Jo, Caribbean Marines and Funseaker) joined forces to present a donation of €10.000 to the National Sea Rescue Society (SNSM) of Saint-Martin. An important gesture as the station is threatened: without a new boat by the end of 2026, it could close.
Admiral Emmanuel de Oliveira, national president of the SNSM (French Sea Rescue Society), stopped in Saint-Martin during his visit to the Antilles in March to christen two new vessels in Saint-Barthélemy and Guadeloupe. “The president clearly stated that if our boat is not replaced by the end of the year, he will put an end to the SNSM’s operations in Saint-Martin,” worries Hélène Debruge, president of the local station.
The Collectivity of Saint-Martin was approached by the association for €100.000, out of a total budget of €450.000, for the purchase of a 10-meter rigid inflatable boat. The request, submitted by Hélène Debruge in July 2025, has reportedly gone unanswered to date.
The need for local public support
All SNSM stations nationwide finance part of their vessels through local authorities (municipalities, departments, regions). For comparison, the collectivity of Saint-Barthélemy financed similar equipment for its SNSM station to the tune of €200.000, notably thanks to donations received from… cruise ship Le Ponant.
For Takeshi Hue, a representative of Funseaker, “we’re talking about saving lives,” calling on maritime professionals to mobilize for maritime safety. The SNSM (French Sea Rescue Society) relies on donations for 70% of its funding, but private support is no longer sufficient. “The boats are not eligible for European funds,” the president points out, emphasizing the need for local public support. With nearly 15 high-seas interventions each year, the Saint-Martin station is one of the busiest in the Antilles—and its future will now be decided in the coming months. _DR
Source: Faxinfo https://faxinfo.fr/en/association-snsm-plus-que-8-mois-pour-financer-leur-nouveau-bateau/
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