On January 14, the 16 meter long fishing vessel P’tit Ours became disabled off Lacanau, France. The trawler had got into difficulties in heavy swells and sent out a distress call. A SNSM lifeboat was dispatched to the scene. The lifeboat took the P’tit Ours under tow back to port. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
The 16 meter long, 29.9 gt fishing vessel Ar Louarn sank off Cotinière, Saint Pierre d’Oléron, France. The trawler had suffered water ingress and notified authorities. The vessel’s EPIRB distress beacon was activated a short time later. Authorities requested all nearby vessels to assist in search and rescue for the crew of the Ar Louarn. Aircraft and SNSM lifeboats were also dispatched to the scene. An hour later a fishing vessel found one of the three crew of the Ar Louarn. He was in good condition, but the other two crew were still reported missing. A search of the area found a debris field near where the trawler sank.
On February 28, the 20 meter long fishing vessel Ar Raok II caught fire in the Bay of Biscay off Belle-Île, France. The fire erupted from some machinery on board and quickly swept through the trawler. The four crew was unable to contain the blaze. They sent out a distress call before forced to abandon ship into the vessel’s life raft. The nearby fishing vessel Joker responded to the alert and rescued the Ar Raok II crew. No reports of injuries. A French frigate and 2 SNSM lifeboats arrived on scene. The vessels attempted to douse the fire and cool the hull, but the Ar Raok II superstructure had already burned away. The blackened hull of the Ar Raok II was taken under tow, but the hull was too far damaged and it sank a short time later. The hull now rests in 50 meters of water near Belle-Île.
