Emergency at sea from a phone
A free number, reachable from a mobile, that puts you straight through to CROSS Med. Use it as soon as danger threatens the boat or the crew.
Vigilance & maritime assistance
Marine safety in Marseille and Cassis: emergencies and good habits
The LOCVOILIER marine safety guide: emergency numbers, the MAYDAY message and the right reflexes for sailing with peace of mind between Port Corbières, the Frioul, the calanques and La Ciotat.
- Emergency at sea: 196
- VHF channel 16
- CROSS Med 24/7
What to know before casting off
Emergency numbers at sea
In danger, every minute counts: these are the only contacts to use.
Distress and watch channel
Monitored at all times by CROSS and by nearby vessels: this is the channel for the MAYDAY message. Your call is heard by everyone who can help you.
The VHF distress button
On a DSC VHF, the “Distress” button automatically sends an alert with your position, provided the radio is connected to the GPS and programmed with the boat’s MMSI.
European emergency number
It reaches the emergency services on land. At sea, use 196 or VHF 16, which connect you directly to CROSS.
In an emergency, call 196 or VHF 16 directly, not LOCVOILIER: the rescue services are alerted faster.
Distress on board
Making a MAYDAY call on the VHF
A clear and complete message helps the rescue services locate you and send the right resources.
- 1
Switch to channel 16
Maximum power, press the transmit button and speak slowly and clearly.
- 2
“MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”
Then “This is [boat name]”, repeated three times.
- 3
Give your position
Latitude and longitude read from the GPS, or distance and bearing from a known point (“1 mile south of Maïre island”).
- 4
Describe the situation
Nature of the distress (leak, fire, man overboard…), number of people on board, assistance required.
- 5
End and listen
Say “Over”, release the transmit button and keep listening. If no one answers, repeat the message.
MAYDAYDistress: grave and imminent danger to the boat or a person.
PAN PANUrgency without immediate danger: engine failure, injured person, drifting boat.
SÉCURITÉNavigation information or weather warning broadcast to all.
The life-saving reflex
Man overboard: the right reflexes
A fall overboard is handled in a few seconds. Every passenger can help the skipper, as long as they know these simple actions.
- 1
Shout “Man overboard!”
The whole crew must be alerted immediately, starting with the skipper.
- 2
Never take your eyes off them
One person is assigned to keep the casualty in sight and point at them, without interruption.
- 3
Throw the buoy
The horseshoe buoy or the pole, as close as possible to the person, so they float and stay visible.
- 4
Mark the position
The skipper records the “MOB” point on the GPS, then manoeuvres back towards the casualty.
- 5
Call for help if needed
If the person is no longer visible or is injured: 196 or MAYDAY on VHF 16, without waiting.
Who comes to help
CROSS Med and SNSM: the sea rescue chain
CROSS Med, the coordination
Based in La Garde, the Regional Operational Centre for Surveillance and Rescue keeps watch 24/7 over the whole Mediterranean coast. It receives 196 and VHF calls, then deploys the nearest resources: SNSM lifeboats, helicopters, vessels in the area.
Permanent watch on channel 16
SNSM, the volunteer lifeboat crews
The SNSM stations in Marseille and La Ciotat respond all year round, day and night, at the request of CROSS. Their crews are volunteers and the association relies largely on donations.
Support the SNSMWith LOCVOILIER
What our skippers check before every departure
Our professional skippers know the waters and the shelters. Before leaving port, nothing is left to chance.
- Weather checked before every departure
- Life jackets on board, fitted to each person
- Crew safety briefing
- VHF on watch on channel 16
- Safety equipment compliant with Division 240
- Route known on shore
Every boat tracked in real time
The whole LOCVOILIER fleet is geolocated: on shore, our team knows the position of each boat during your trip, from departure at Port Corbières until the return.
See how we track our boats →A professional skipper, life jackets, briefing and safety equipment are included in all our boat trips:
Full-day boat trip
Sunset boat trip
Evening at sea
Hen and stag parties at sea
Boat trip in Cassis
IA Orana catamaran
Recommended tool · responsible anchoring
Download DONIA before going to sea
The free DONIA app maps the nature of the seabed so you can anchor away from Posidonia seagrass meadows, safely on holding ground.
The regulations
Compulsory safety equipment on board
In France, the safety equipment of a pleasure boat depends on how far it goes from a shelter: this is Division 240. The further you go, the longer the list. Here are the main points; full details are on our dedicated page.
| Category | Distance from a shelter | What is added |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Up to 2 miles | A life jacket or personal flotation device for each person, waterproof torch, firefighting equipment, means of reboarding, towing device |
| Coastal | Up to 6 miles | The basic equipment, plus hand flares, compass, nautical chart, international regulations (COLREGs) and buoyage |
| Offshore | Beyond 6 miles | The coastal equipment, plus liferaft, fixed VHF, parachute rockets, distress beacon and full navigation equipment |
All our boats are equipped beyond what their sailing programme requires, and every item is checked before departure. Boats carrying passengers commercially are also subject to the stricter Division 241.
Before leaving
Marine weather and the mistral: good habits
Marine safety starts on land, by reading the weather. In Marseille, the prevailing wind is the mistral: a north-westerly wind, often violent, which can rise within a few hours and whip up a short, steep sea offshore. With an easterly wind, it is the opposite: the Côte Bleue becomes more exposed and the calanques more sheltered.
- Check the coastal forecast the day before and on the morning of departure, and see whether a Special Weather Bulletin (BMS) is in force.
- Look at the wind strength and gusts: above force 5 on the Beaufort scale, the sea becomes uncomfortable for a leisure trip.
- Have a plan B: sheltered waters, an early return or a postponed trip.
Our skippers decide whether each trip goes ahead depending on the conditions. Our Marseille marine weather and Cassis marine weather pages gather the live forecasts.
At anchor
Swimming safely from the boat
Swimming at anchor is one of the best moments of a boat trip, as long as you follow a few simple rules.
- Engine off: never swim while the propeller is turning, and the skipper announces when the water is clear.
- Ladder down before jumping, so you can easily climb back on board.
- Not too far from the boat: current and wind can carry a swimmer away faster than you think.
- No alcohol before swimming, and always under the eye of someone on board.
- Watch out for jellyfish in summer: the skipper checks the water before swimming.
With family
Children on board, safely
Children love the sea, and a boat trip can be enjoyed from a very young age with a few precautions. Each child wears a life jacket in their size, fitted by the skipper at departure, and keeps it on throughout the sail. The youngest stay in the cockpit, sheltered, and only go forward with an adult.
Remember sun protection (UV T-shirt, hat, sunglasses), water and snacks. The very stable catamaran is the most comfortable boat for families. Tell us the children’s ages when you book: we provide suitable life jackets and the skipper chooses an easy anchorage for swimming.
Before leaving, explain the three rules on board to the children simply: keep your life jacket on, stay seated while the boat is moving, and tell an adult before leaning out or going into the water. Children understand quickly, and these rules are part of the adventure. The skipper reminds them patiently, and many leave wanting to learn to sail.
Sunsets and evenings
Sailing safely at night
Sunset trips and evenings at sea often end after dark. Night sailing requires a little more attention: distances are harder to judge, other boats are identified by their lights, and an object dropped overboard quickly becomes invisible.
- Navigation lights on from sunset, and checked before departure.
- A head torch or waterproof torch within the skipper’s reach, and cockpit lighting for moving around on board.
- Stay seated while sailing, and only go forward with the skipper’s agreement.
- No swimming at night without the skipper’s agreement, with the stern lit and the ladder down.
Our skippers know the harbour entrances and the buoyage of the Marseille harbour by heart: the return trip, along the lights of the city, is completely relaxed. Discover our evenings at sea.
FAQ
Marine safety: your questions
What number should I call in an emergency at sea?
Dial 196 from a phone: the call is free and connects you directly to CROSS Med. If you have a VHF, make a MAYDAY call on channel 16, heard by both CROSS and nearby boats.
Does 196 work everywhere at sea?
It works wherever your phone has signal, which is the case on most coastal trips between Marseille, Cassis and La Ciotat. Offshore or at the foot of the calanque cliffs, signal may be lost: the VHF then remains the safest means.
What is the difference between MAYDAY, PAN PAN and SÉCURITÉ?
MAYDAY signals distress: a grave and imminent danger threatens the boat or a person. PAN PAN signals urgency without immediate danger, such as an engine failure or a minor injury. SÉCURITÉ announces navigation information or a weather warning.
What is CROSS Med?
It is the Regional Operational Centre for Surveillance and Rescue in the Mediterranean, based in La Garde, in the Var. It receives alerts 24/7 and coordinates rescue at sea, including SNSM lifeboats, helicopters and vessels in the area.
Is a life jacket compulsory on a boat?
The regulations (Division 240) require a suitable life jacket on board for each person. Wearing it is not compulsory for an adult, but the skipper may ask you to depending on the sea. We recommend it for children and weak swimmers.
Can we go on a boat trip with children?
Yes. The skipper fits a life jacket to each child’s size and the rules on board are explained at departure. Tell us the children’s ages and weights when you book so that everything is ready.
Do I need to know how to swim for a boat trip?
No. You stay on board with a life jacket available, and swimming at anchor is never compulsory. Those who swim do so close to the boat, with the swim ladder and the paddleboard within reach.
What happens if the weather is bad or the mistral blows?
The skipper checks the marine forecast the day before and on the morning of departure. In moderate wind, he chooses sheltered coves. If the sea makes the trip dangerous, it is postponed and we offer you another date.
How can I avoid seasickness?
Stay in the open air and look at the horizon, avoid setting off on an empty stomach and limit alcohol at the start of the trip. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist for advice before departure. At anchor, in a sheltered cove, the discomfort usually disappears.
Do you have to pay for rescue at sea?
No, rescuing people is free in France. Assistance to a broken-down boat, with no danger to the crew, may however involve a contribution to towing costs.
What should I do if the engine fails offshore?
Stay calm, anchor if the depth allows so as not to drift towards the coast, then call for assistance. With no immediate danger, this is a PAN PAN message on channel 16 or a call to a towing company; in danger, MAYDAY or 196.
What are the visual distress signals?
Red hand flares, red parachute rockets, orange smoke signals and slowly raising and lowering outstretched arms. They are only used in genuine distress.
Do I need a licence to steer the boat during the trip?
No, with a professional skipper: they remain responsible for the boat and can let you take the helm under supervision. To rent a motorboat without a skipper, a boating licence is compulsory.
How can I protect myself from the sun at sea?
Reflection on the water doubles your exposure: mineral sunscreen, UV T-shirt, hat, sunglasses and plenty of water. During the hottest hours, stay in the shade of the bimini.
What if a passenger is injured on board?
The skipper has a first-aid kit and is trained in first aid. In the event of a serious injury, they contact CROSS Med, which arranges a remote medical consultation and, if necessary, evacuation to the nearest port.
Are charter boats inspected?
Yes. At LOCVOILIER, every boat is checked before every trip: safety equipment, engine, rigging, fuel and general condition. Boats under charter management also undergo a condition report at each charter.
What does the safety briefing before departure cover?
Where the life jackets and first-aid kit are, how the swim ladder and toilets work, where to move around on board, swimming instructions and what to do if there is a problem. It lasts a few minutes and concerns all passengers.
Preparing your trip
Sail safely with a professional skipper
Weather, route, sheltered anchorages: our skippers take care of everything so you can enjoy the sea with complete peace of mind.
Marseille marine weather
Cassis marine weather
Beaufort scale
Division 240
Eco-friendly sailing
Contact us
Set the right course from the start!
