LIFEBOAT AT NOUMEA

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LIFEBOAT AT NOUMEA

Post by shipstamps » Sun Sep 28, 2008 4:53 pm


The National Sea Rescue Society (Sociéte Nationale des Sauveteurs en Mer SNSM.) is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2007. The SNSM was founded in 1967 when two existing sea rescue operations joined forces. (Sociéete centrale de sauvetage des naufragés – founded in 1865 and Hospitaliers sauveteurs Bretons – founded in 1873.)
The New Caledonia OPT is paying tribute to the courage, dedication and skill of sea rescue teams by issuing a commemorative stamp depicting the new lifeboat soon to be added to the Nouméa Sea Rescue station’s resources.

The SNSM is a public non-profit making association (governed by the French law of 1901) dedicated to saving human life at sea. It also runs sea rescue training programs and mans 232 lifeboat stations dotted around the French coastlines (one every 15 km.) and in French overseas territories.
Sea rescue teams are the first link in the emergency response chain, ready to act day and night within 15 minutes of receiving a call for help. They assess the medical condition of rescued, dispense first aid and assist in evacuating people when needed to dry land.

The Nouméa sea rescue station was opened at the beginning of 2004 and is staffed by around fifty volunteers. The station is responsible for a longer stretch of coastline than any other branch of SNSM, it go’s from the Isle of Pines up to La Foa. Other rescue stations are planned to ensure covering of the entire New Caledonian coastline and the new station at Koumac will soon be operational.

The stamp shows and depicts the lifeboat of the SNSM of Marseille during a voyage; she is of the class-2 built by Ernest Sibiril yard at Carantec, Britanny, France.
Dim. 10.50 x 3.60 x 1.00 m. (draught).
Powered by two diesel engines each 300 hp., speed 24 knots.

On New Caledonia 2007 75F.

Source: info received from Mr. Jean-Louis Araignon.

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