NEWS: GONG ENTERS INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH SNSM

Two GONG staff members at the service of SNSM for sea rescue missions!

Diane and Maxime, GONG employees and long-time volunteers for the French National Sea Rescue Society or Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM), might be the ones assisting you if you encounter trouble at sea during a session near the GONG Space Center.

Being cautious is essential, but some incidents are unforeseeable: discomfort, mechanical breakdowns, or accidents. In the event of a surprise at sea, the availability of all team members is crucial for SNSM to effectively assist victims.

To enable Diane and Maxime to intervene during their working hours alongside their fellow rescuers, an agreement signed between GONG and SNSM allows them to be released in case of emergencies.

• Diane, Administrative and Financial Assistant at GONG:

“Our missions for SNSM are truly engaging due to the conditions in which we may have to perform them and, of course, the often vital nature of the assistance provided to people. I couldn’t imagine giving up these missions with SNSM when I joined GONG. Fortunately, Patrice and the management were immediately receptive to the idea of releasing me occasionally for urgent interventions. Not all my volunteer colleagues have this opportunity.

Each of us has a specific role on the rescue boats, and having to do without a colleague greatly affects our efficiency. If the entire crew is not available, we have to adapt based on the resources we have. My experience allows me to take on multiple roles such as crew member, on-board swimmer, radio navigator, or leader of the intervention on the rigid inflatable boat. When we go on a mission, we can be triggered by CROSS for either people rescue or assistance to property. The types of our interventions vary enormously. We sometimes intervene for wing foilers or SUPers who overestimate their abilities or who are not cautious enough about onshore winds, for example. It cannot be stressed enough to respect basic safety rules. So, inform yourself and read the user manuals of your equipment.

I take this opportunity to remind everyone that SNSM’s funding primarily comes from public donations. Without this support, our missions could not be carried out effectively. I invite all readers who share our passion for the marine environment to learn about our missions on our website.”

• Maxime, Outbound Flow Manager at GONG:

“I have been a sea rescuer for 12 years and a volunteer at the SNSM station in Pornichet since 2020. When I requested an agreement from management to be detached from the company in case of sea rescue activation, Patrice responded quickly and positively.

During the day, volunteer rescuers at the station are working. It is sometimes challenging to assemble a crew for the rigid inflatable boat or the rescue boat to help people at sea. Few rescuers are fortunate enough to have such agreements approved by their employers. This agreement allows me to leave the company during my working hours or to arrive later in the morning in case of nighttime interventions extending into the morning.

The interventions are diverse. Searching for a surfer or wing foiler in distress, a boat with a motor breakdown or stranded, posing a risk to the crew, discomfort, or accidents aboard a boat. It is important to understand that at sea, situations can quickly shift from what we believe to be manageable to a situation that endangers us. So, take all necessary precautions.

I am happy to work in a company that, beyond creating and selling nautical equipment to enthusiasts of these disciplines, remembers that everyone’s help at sea is precious and indispensable.”