In 2025, 4,584 rescue or assistance operations
The préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée has assessed the State action at sea (AEM) for 2025.
2025 saw the number of operations conducted by the Centre régional opérationnel de surveillance et de sauvetage de Méditerranée (CROSS MED) increase compared to 2024 (+6%), with the period from May to September accounting for nearly 75% of the interventions.
While the number of people involved is slightly down (-6%), the number of deaths remains concerning (87 people).
20,000 CONTROLS AT SEA In this context, the strengthening of controls at sea and user awareness will continue, in accordance with the policy implemented by the préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée. Furthermore, nearly 20,000 controls were conducted at sea by the units of the administrations contributing to the AEM. These controls illustrate the proactive policy of the préfecture maritime in terms of public order, maritime safety, and protection of the marine environment.
Par ailleurs, les nombres importants d’épaves retirées du littoral (147) et de munitions historiques neutralisées (940) témoignent d’un assainissement significatif du littoral, bénéfique pour la sécurité des usagers et pour l'environnement. Enfin, la sécurisation de la Conférence des Nations Unies sur l’océan (UNOC) à Nice en juin 2025 a été un succès. En effet, aucun incident n’est venu perturber le déroulement de cet évènement à portée internationale. Toujours au cours de l’année 2025, la préfecture maritime a été engagée pour conduire un large spectre de missions en mobilisant tous les services et administrations concourant à l’AEM. Ainsi, les moyens nautiques de la fonction gardecôtes ont navigué 77 873 heures (soit en moyenne près de 9 moyens déployés en permanence en mer, le long du littoral méditerranéen) alors que les aéronefs ont volé 1 905 heures (en moyenne plus de 5 heures par jour).
Furthermore, the significant numbers of wrecks removed from the coastline (147) and historical munitions neutralized (940) bear witness to a significant clean-up of the coastline, beneficial for user safety and the environment.
Finally, securing the Conférence des Nations Unies sur l'océan (UNOC) in Nice in June 2025 was a success. Indeed, no incident disrupted the course of this international event.
Also during the year 2025, the préfecture maritime was committed to conducting a wide spectrum of missions by mobilizing all services and administrations contributing to the AEM. Thus, the nautical resources of the coast guard function sailed 77,873 hours (representing an average of nearly 9 months permanently deployed at sea along the Mediterranean coast) while aircraft flew 1,905 hours (an average of more than 5 hours per day).
Coordinated at the central level by the Secrétariat général de la mer (SG Mer), State action at sea consists of guaranteeing the protection of national interests, the safeguarding of people and property, public order at sea, the fight against illicit activities, and the protection of the environment 365 days a year and 24 hours a day. It mobilizes 8 administrations for the benefit of 45 missions, under the coordination of vice-amiral d'escadre Christophe Lucas, préfet maritime de la Méditerranée and sole representative of the State at sea.
PLEASE NOTE... In 2025, the main missions of the AEM in the Mediterranean represent: • 4,584 rescue or assistance operations coordinated by the CROSS MED involving 10,188 people; • 940 explosive devices neutralized, representing 3.9 tonnes in TNT equivalent; • 257,416 vessels monitored and tracked by the semaphores of the Marine nationale; • 19,147 controls conducted at sea with 4,217 offenses detected; • 1,500 controls of anchored vessels with 100 reports issued; • 12 administrations falling under 6 ministries, 40 nautical units, and nearly 400 agents mobilized to secure the Conférence des Nations Unies sur l'océan in Nice.
Photos Marine nationale.