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Cols Bleus n°2843 – 2007 October 06 – VCSM Esteron : NAVIGATION CONTROL in the Baie de Seine
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Latitudes
THE GENDARMERIE MARITIME
At the service of the Navy, the Gendarmerie Maritime has a fleet of about thirty ships (motor and patrol boats)
covering French and French overseas territories' coastal regions. They make an essential contribution to marine
rescue services by participating in the following missions: protection of maritime traffic, rescue and assistance for
persons and property, fishing and navigation control, the fight against pollution, illegal traffic at sea, clandestine
immigration and terrorism. In territorial waters and exclusive economic zones (EEC), the Gendarmerie Maritime
conducts general policing missions under the authority of the maritime prefect and criminal policing missions under
the authority of the Prosecutor of the Republic. On land, it participates in the protection and safety of Navy
establishments, and assists the administrative and criminal police on the coast.
Cols Bleus n°2843 – 2007 October 06 – VCSM Esteron : NAVIGATION CONTROL in the Baie de Seine
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NAVIGATION CONTROL in the Baie de Seine
All named after a river, the latest came into active service in March 2007. This is the 24th coastal maritime
surveillance vessel (VCSM) baptized Esteron, since allocated to the Le Havre brigade of the Gendarmerie
Maritime. Cols Bleus invites you to follow her crew for a day of fishing and navigation control. All aboard the
VCSM Esteron for an innovative program.
Cols Bleus n°2843 – 2007 October 06 – VCSM Esteron : NAVIGATION CONTROL in the Baie de Seine
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(Pictures’ legend) FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: HEADING FOR THE TRAWLER CAP EN BAIE
THE MACKEREL MUST MEASURE MORE THAN 20 CM, THE MINIMUM PERMITTED SIZE
MEASURING THE MESH OF THE NETS
“They are very practical patrol boats for control work. Their two major strong points are their ease of launch on an
inclined ramp and their very low noise levels inside.”
(Picture’s legend) SIGNING THE INSPECTION REPORT
Cols Bleus n°2843 – 2007 October 06 – VCSM Esteron : NAVIGATION CONTROL in the Baie de Seine
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"Cap en Baie from Esteron, requesting permission to board for fishing inspection", announces Sergeant Fairier on
the VHF. In the silent cabin of the VCSM Esteron, three gendarmes are already in their coveralls. Outside, the
weather conditions are not exactly clement; a force 4-5 westerly wind, a choppy sea and rain falling constantly
since last night. Autumnal weather in the Seine bay on this July Monday morning. No pleasure boats in the
Ouistreham channel – only the professionals. A few nautical miles offshore, the 36-foot trawler Cap en Baie is
pulling her nets close to the Esteron. The captain agrees to the gendarmes' request but wonders how to get them
aboard. From his cabin, he can see no small craft to the vessel's stern and couple berthing both vessels would be
dangerous given the sea condition.
"TENDER ONE" ON THE RAMP
For the gendarmes however, boarding a trawler seems to pose no problem. The agreement of the fisherman has
set in train a much-repeated operation. Nicolas Fairier, second-in-command, is at the offset controls on the upper
bridge. A clear view around the vessel and especially of the launch ramp of the Tender One, the onboard semirigid craft. Renaud Soufflet, electrician gendarme, is already onboard the dinghy ready to start the engine. With
the winch remote in hand, Eric Dubourg, Chief Petty Officer Chief Engineer, slides the craft along the ramp
sloping down to the surface of the water. At the vessel's stern, Renaud is already boarding the four inspectors,
the gendarme Thierry Aubert and the Warrant Officer Dominique Brisset, a reserve officer. A few moments later,
the two men board the trawler. Staying close by, Renaud is ready to recover them.
FISHING AND NAVIGATION CONTROL
"A control comprises three separate, independent actions", explains Nicolas who has remained on board the patrol
boat. "The first is administrative, where we check the conformity of the statutory documentation. In this way, we can
get a feel for the boat and get to know it better. We check that the crew are all properly qualified and enrolled. The
second part consists of checking vessel safety and the condition of her equipment. Fishing vessels are subject to an
annual inspection and may be under special safety recommendations. We need to ensure that they are complied with.
The third part directly concerns the vessel's activity. We check access rights (special fishing permit, license and
number of fishing days) and the logbook, mandatory for vessels of over 10m. This fishing log must contain an
estimate of the quantities fished and the real weight of quantities landed. We also check the conformity of the fishing
gear and its usage permit and the captures (quotas, minimum size, composition, compliance with the logbook and
storage rules)."
90% MACKEREL
In the cabin of the Cap en baie, Thierry has just finished inspecting the documents with the fishing captain. Now he
descends into to the refrigerated hold to count the piles of fish crates. "90% mackerel", he announces to
Dominique, his deputy. Measuring tape in hand and without wasting a second, he measures a few randomly
selected mackerel. 23, 28, 29, 22 cm, all measure more than the minimum permitted size. A little later, both
gendarmes help to raise the well-filled nets. This is an opportunity for Thierry to measure the net holes, declared
to be 32 cm.
Once the fish have been poured out onto the deck, he dips the net several times into a small plastic gauge with
red graduated figures. The measurement must be made while the nets are wet and stretched. Each time, a figure
over 32 appears. The net is compliant and the inspection is coming to an end. Thierry draws up a report of the
inspection that he and the captain of Cap en baie sign. Both gendarmes leave the trawler after almost one and a
half hours of inspection.
Cols Bleus n°2843 – 2007 October 06 – VCSM Esteron : NAVIGATION CONTROL in the Baie de Seine
24 CYLINDERS AND TWO THOUSAND HORSEPOWER
Eric, the chief engineer, is both concentrated and relieved. Both diesel engines, idling during the inspection, will
now be able to express the full power of their 12 cylinders in V formation. Two thousand horsepower in all. With
his eyes fixed on the tachymeter and his hands firmly on the throttle, he gradually brings the thoroughbreds to
full power. 7, 8, 9… and soon 21, 22, 23 knots. Patrol speed has been reached.
At this speed, the vessel is still able to cover more than 400 nautical miles without refueling. The Esteron seems to
fly over the waves and leave a wide line of foam in her wake. A navigator like the second in command, Thierry
has taken over the helm, or to be more specific, the joystick, that he controls with one finger. Heading direct south,
towards the port of Ouistreham.
VERSATILITY DE RIGUEUR
Always ready to sail in an emergency, Sainte Anne des Flots points offshore. Berthed alongside a floating
pontoon at the mouth of the Lower-Normandy port, the rescue vessel of the SNSM offers her starboard side to
the Esteron during lunchtime.
Behind the vessels, two locks enable pleasure boaters and merchant ships to access the city of Caen by canal.
While Renaud and Dominique lay the table, Thierry is busy in the galley, a deck below. After the inspector's
overalls and the watch officer's uniform, the gendarme is now wearing the white cotton coat of a chef. Sharing
tasks and versatility are the norm. On the menu, salmon tagliatella with his own special sauce. "I never make the
same thing twice. It depends on the inspiration of the day", underlines Thierry. "Today, it's paprika, mixed peppers
and herbs."
FROM RIVER TO RIVER
Swept away by a stronger westerly wind, the morning grayness has given way to blue skies with racing white
clouds. The Esteron, whose name recalls the river winding through the Nice hinterland, has resumed her patrol in
the direction of a much larger river: the Seine. The Chief Officer is determined to "encounter" a few pleasure
boaters in the estuary.
(Pictures’ legend) AFTER THE INSPECTOR’S COVERALLS AND THE WATCH OFFICER’s UNIFORM, THE
GENDARME IS NOW WEARING THE WHITE COTTON COAT OF A CHEF. SHARING TASKS AND VERSATILITY
ARE THE NORM.
Cols Bleus n°2843 – 2007 October 06 – VCSM Esteron : NAVIGATION CONTROL in the Baie de Seine
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INCLEMENT WEATHER
The bad weather of the last few days and a breeze of over 20 knots this afternoon have probably kept the few
holidays boaters away.
None have ventured outside between Ouistreham and Honfleur. Numerous kite-surfers and funboarders are
making the most of the big seas and huge waves breaking on the Normandy beaches.
Nearing the Normandie bridge spanning the Seine estuary, the Esteron is entering the patch of much more
imposing vessels. Container ships arriving from all over the world to unload their cargo one by one on the quays
of "Port 2000", the new extension of the free port of Le Havre, inaugurated in March 2006 and located at the
mouth of the Seine.
FROM TRAWLER TO RESTAURANT
The latest weather forecast from the Jobourg station indicates the arrival of another low pressure system for the
following night. Nicolas decides to run in the wake of a fleet of trawlers heading for the port of Honfleur.
"When conditions are bad, I'm not going to put the crew at risk, just to fill in an inspection sheet. Fish controls also
continue on land. We can inspect storage, landing, placing on the market, transport, sale and processing of fish
resources. In other words, from the fisherman to the restaurant."
More inspections in the pipeline for the crew of the VCSM Esteron.
(Pictures’ legend) SHORT LUNCH BREAK BEFORE STARTING THE AFTERNOON’s SHIPPING CONTROL
Cols Bleus n°2843 – 2007 October 06 – VCSM Esteron : NAVIGATION CONTROL in the Baie de Seine
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"THE KEYWORD ON BOARD IS VERSATILITY"
While the crew keeps an eye on the horizon, Nicolas readily prepares for the interview to present the new
member of the fleet, that he already knows like the back of his hand. Before embarking on the Esteron last
March, Nicolas had already spent time on another VCSM, the Hérault, based in Sète.
Can you tell us about the crew. What are they like?
Four navigating gendarmes, three engineers (including a chief engineering officer) and an electrician make up
the crew of the Esteron. When the vessel goes to sea, we must be a minimum of five. The skipper and/or the
chief-officer (of navigating specialty, they both have their commanding papers), two other navigators and two
engineers (or electrician). This reduced crew enables average sea activity to be guaranteed at one hundred and
twenty days per year. No "one" crew member is dedicated to the inspections. Versatility is the name of the game
on board.
What is your operating area?
The vessel can patrol out as far as 20 nautical miles from the coast. Our usual area is between Fécamp and
Barfleur but the onboard criminal police are responsible for the area extending from Mont-Saint-Michel to the
Belgian boarder. When responding to an alert together with the VSCM Yser based in Dieppe, we might operate
off the coast of Dunkerque for example.
Let's get back to the missions of the Esteron patrol boat…
Our activity mostly concerns the policing of fishing and navigation. We control and inspect roughly one to two
fishing boats a day. We also control pleasure boaters, weather permitting, which doesn’t seem to be the case
today. In the context of “State Action at Sea” the great versatility of the vessel also enables us to carry out a
variety of missions including general policing at sea and along the coast, criminal, administrative and military
policing, patrolling the sea approaches, defending the territory from the sea, fighting against illicit traffic,
fighting against clandestine immigration and sea rescue.
You have been working on the VCSM since 2005. Can you give us your opinion of it as a user?
They are very practical patrol boats for control work. Their two major strong points are their ease of launch on
an inclined ramp and their very low noise levels inside. Their only weak point could be excessive windage. With
their small draught, VSCMs are quite susceptible to wind. I’m aware of this when manoeuvring in ports. I think
you have to know their field of use and respect their limits. They can’t be compared with the old ten to fourteenmeter vessels. They were “pleasure-boat” products that we used for “State Action at Sea”. VSCMs are real
professional tools specifically designed for these missions.
Moored along a floating pontoon at the entrance to the port of Ouistreham, Sainte Anne des Flots, an SNSM rescue
vessel, offers its port side to the Esteron during a lunch break.
Cols Bleus n°2843 – 2007 October 06 – VCSM Esteron : NAVIGATION CONTROL in the Baie de Seine
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(Pictures’ legend) THE ESTUARY OF THE BAIE DE SEINE SPANNED BY THE NORMANDY BRIDGE,
PRIVILEDGED PATCH OF THE VCSM ESTERON
A sailor in the Police
On board the Esteron, the chief engineer is a sailor. It’s not always the case on the other VCSMs. As with most
crews, Eric Dubourg knows the vessel well. He was engineer on the Yaser from 2004 to 2007. His previous
posting was the result of a spontaneous application following a call for volunteers. Nothing like the antisubmarine frigate Montcalm, his last onboard posting in the Navy.
Chief Petty Officer Chief Engineer with nearly nineteen years experience, Eric enjoys his current job. “I have a lot
of responsibilities and the work is varied.”
“It’s my job is to ensure the proper operation of the float part and its maintenance but versatility is really important. I
can just as easily take part in replenishing supplies of fresh food and help a control officer on a fishing boat. We all
get on very well together. We are nearly all the same age and speak the same language.“
Cols Bleus n°2843 – 2007 October 06 – VCSM Esteron : NAVIGATION CONTROL in the Baie de Seine
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VCSM, AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAMME
BY CF CYRILLE PERROT, EMM/EXPERT/NC, VCSM PROGRAMME OFFICER
Forty five months after the first VCSM Elorn, based in Concarneau, entered active service, the 24th and last vessel
of the series, the Esteron entered into active service on the 16th March last and was allocated to the Gendarmerie
Maritime at Le Havre.
The fruit of close collaboration
This program was ordered by the “naval operations” department of the DGA (General Management of the
Armies). The few military features required meant that it was possible to call on civilian boat-builders to obtain a
vessel that complied with merchant navy standards.
State collaboration between Navy staff, that of the Major of the Gendarmerie Maritime and the principal
contractor, resulted in particularly demanding specifications.
The industrial subcontractors selected in December 2001, “RAIDCO Marine international” (RMI) and “Construction
navales de Bordeaux” (CNB), had to design and build an innovative and reliable vessel suited to the work of the
gendarmerie maritime. In service for over three years now, this series of patrol boats displays excellent
seaworthiness in service to the great satisfaction of its users.
Originality, technicality and characteristics
The VCSM represents the archetype of the modern coastal patrol boat. Built in GRP (glass reinforced plastic), this
40 ton-vessel offers exceptional marine qualities in perfect comfort whether in terms of noise levels, vibrations or
seaworthiness. Efficient and with a great range capacity, this 20-meter long craft enables a crew of 8 maritime
police and seamen to avail of 4 days' complete autonomy and to cover over 500 nautical miles at 15 knots.
Powered by two 1 000 HP V12 MAN engines, the VCSM’s maximum speed exceeds 25 knots during operational
interception. The VCSM’s intervention and control operations are greatly enhanced by the rapid platform
launching of its semi-inflatable interception craft.
The VCSM is equipped with a mounted ANF1 7.62 mm caliber machine gun and maritime communication systems,
a digital communications and information system from the Rubis gendarmerie, and also offers protection against
weapons fire thanks to an armored navigation shelter.
The vessel is classed 3rd category in merchant navy navigation by the Lloyd’s register, this patrol boat is
designed to offer a 350 days/year technical availability with a potential use of 1 200 hours/year.
A program for export
Since the first VCSM entered into service, and with its excellent seaworthiness for coastal operations, this type 20
RPB is successfully exported and is being carefully studied by African navies who have signed purchases: 5 for
the Senegal fishing and customs departments, 10 for the Moroccan royal navy, 2 for the Mauritian national navy
and 2 (with a further 4 on option) for the police services of South Africa.
Powered by two 1 000 HP V12 MAN engines, the VCSM’s maximum speed exceeds 25 knots during operational
interception.