Creation of the station 1866 (≈ 1866)
Foundation by the Central Rescue Society.
1894
Extension of hold
Extension of hold 1894 (≈ 1894)
Modification of the first existing shelter.
1939
Construction of second shelter
Construction of second shelter 1939 (≈ 1939)
Replacement of the first destroyed building.
1962
Construction of the current shelter
Construction of the current shelter 1962 (≈ 1962)
Reinforced concrete building with unique system.
8 août 2008
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 8 août 2008 (≈ 2008)
Official protection of the building and its system.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The rescue station at sea, i.e. the shelter of the canoe and the launching system (AK 298): registration by order of 8 August 2008
Key figures
Impératrice Eugénie - Founder of the Central Rescue Society
Initiator of the creation of the station.
Émile Daniel - Patron honored by a canoe
Name given to the 1962 canoe.
Origin and history
The Etel Sea Rescue Station, located on Place des Thoniers about 280 metres south of the marina, is an emblematic monument of Breton maritime heritage. Built in 1962, it replaces two earlier buildings, dating from 1866 and 1939 respectively. This third shelter, made of reinforced concrete, is distinguished by its quadrangular plane and its lateral watering system by gravity, a unique feature in France. The building also houses the last insubmersible canoe of the 'Patron Émile Daniel' type, built in the same year.
The station was created in 1866, a year after the founding of the Central Shipwrecked Rescue Company by Empress Eugénie. The first shelter, located north of the ground basin, saw its launch hold extended in 1894 before being replaced in 1939 by a second building. The latter, destroyed, replaced in 1962 at the current station, designed with a watering machine by bosses, manufactured by the J. Paris workshops in Nantes. This system, which is still operational, is the only one of its kind still in service in France.
The building, which has been listed as a historic monument since August 8, 2008, also benefits from the label 'Heritage of the twentieth century'. It embodies the evolution of marine rescue techniques and the adaptation of port infrastructure to maritime security needs. The resort housed several iconic canoes, including 'La Seyne' (1867-1889), 'Papa Poydenot' (1913-1939), and more recently 'Nohic' (since 2013).
The port of Étel, which boomed between 1830 and 1970, saw the development of infrastructures dedicated to fishing and rescue. The current station, located at the southwest end of the wharf, illustrates this dynamic with its 1960s functional architecture. Its strategic location, overlooking the Etel River, allows rapid response in the event of a shipwreck, strengthening its crucial role in local maritime safety.
The station also maintains a side hold to the east as an emergency solution in case of failure of the main system. This device demonstrates the ingenuity of the designers and their willingness to ensure maximum reliability. Today, the station remains a symbol of the Breton maritime tradition and the continuing commitment to rescue at sea.
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