A highly satisfying security report
The préfet maritime de la Méditerranée drew up a highly satisfying report on this exceptional event.
From July 26 to August 9, Marseille welcomed the Olympic athletes who raced in the rade Sud.
On this occasion, the préfet maritime de la Méditerranée was responsible for safety and security at sea as well as the reconciliation of uses on the water.
To carry out his safety and security missions at sea during this event, the préfet maritime had at his disposal the nautical, aerial, and land resources of 14 administrations falling under 6 ministries [1], the city of Marseille and the Société nationale de sauvetage en mer (SNSM). "All of these units were deployed within an inter-administrative dispositif particulier de sûreté maritime (DPSM), coordinated from a maritime command post in Endoume, in order to respond to various emergencies (accidents, pollution, fires, etc.)," recalled the representative of the State.
These units, for example, ensured security and dealt with various threats to athletes, escorts, and all participants. It was also a matter of guaranteeing the smooth running of the event by regulating activities on the water, in a spirit of conciliation of all uses.
12,500 SPECTATORS PER DAY "This large-scale system made it possible in particular to guarantee the safety of 330 athletes and 12,500 spectators per day. Thanks to the fifty or so units present on the water and the 430 agents mobilized every day, no intrusion, no arrest, and no malicious act were reported," welcomed the préfet maritime.
He added: "During these 15 days, there were about ten reminders of the regulations per day concerning speed and compliance with navigation and swimming zones, and about ten interventions each night to stop unauthorized anchoring in the race zone. In addition, there were three interventions by the groupe de plongeurs-démineurs of the Marine nationale, including two against historical shell minings, and about ten assistance or rescue interventions by the secours/santé system, none of which directly concerned the participants in the events."
In addition to the absence of any notable incident, other satisfactions regarding the coexistence of uses are worth noting, in particular the simplification of the race zone to the south/south-west, which is straight between cap Cavau and cap Croisette. "This allowed for a better understanding of the regulations and saved time for recreational boaters sailing towards the Calanques. Furthermore, the trialing of an unprecedented swimming lane, extending from Anse de la Fausse Monnaie to plage du Prophète, in connection with the préfecture des Bouches-du-Rhône, the direction départementale des territoires et de la mer des Bouches-du-Rhône, and the Ville de Marseille, proved to be highly relevant.
Likewise, the possibility for certain diving clubs to obtain exemptions to dive to the east of Frioul in the event of a westerly wind was also perceived positively," specified the préfet maritime.
For the past two years, field work and preparation, in connection with State services, local authorities, and water users, as well as the holding of the Test Event in 2023, have been decisive in gaining the population's acceptance of restrictive regulations and guaranteeing the full effectiveness of this extraordinary inter-administrative system.
Vice-amiral d'escadre Gilles Boldevez, préfet maritime de la Méditerranée, sent "his warmest congratulations and thanks to all the services and units that participated at sea, on land, and in the air in the success of this exceptional event." [1] Marine nationale including Gendarmerie maritime, Gendarmerie nationale, Douane, Affaires maritimes, DRASSM, Police nationale, CROSS MED, BMPM, SCMM, SMUR-M, SAMU 13.
Photos Marine nationale. [1] Marine nationale including Gendarmerie maritime, Gendarmerie nationale, Douane, Affaires maritimes, DRASSM, Police nationale, CROSS MED, BMPM, SCMM, SMUR-M, SAMU 13.