The Santona: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

On December 16, 2025, at approximately 4 PM, the CROSS Jobourg received an urgent request for medical assistance from the vessel 'Santona', which was navigating the waters near Cherbourg. The situation prompted a collaborative effort, leading to a conference call between the Maritime Medical Consultation Center in Toulouse and the Maritime Medical Coordination Center located in Le Havre. After a thorough evaluation, the medical teams determined that an air-lift was necessary for the passenger in need of urgent care. In response, the CROSS deployed an H160 helicopter from the French Navy, stationed at Maupertus-sur-Mer. A specialized medical team from the Armed Forces Health Service, based in Querqueville, was on board for the evacuation. The helicopter successfully transported the patient to Querqueville, where local Cherbourg firefighters were waiting to provide ground assistance, ensuring the patient was promptly rushed to Cotentin Public Hospital for further treatment.

On the morning of September 19, 2023, a swift medevac operation was executed by an H160 helicopter belonging to the French Navy, successfully transporting a passenger from the ferry 'Santona' to a hospital in Cherbourg. The incident unfolded around 5 a.m. when the ferry, which operates between Portsmouth and Santander, issued a distress call to CROSS Jobourg after a passenger exhibited alarming health indicators. At the time, the vessel was approximately ten nautical miles north-northwest of Cap de la Hague in the English Channel. The CROSS Jobourg promptly coordinated a discussion with both the maritime medical consultation center in Toulouse and the SAMU maritime medical coordination unit in Le Havre, ultimately deciding that a helicopter evacuation to the hospital in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin was imperative. An H160 helicopter was dispatched from the Navy base in Maupertus, accompanied by a medical team from the army health service. The team was collected from the Querqueville site and quickly transported to the ferry, where they assessed and prepared the passenger for evacuation. Following a successful airlift operation, the individual was safely delivered to the Pasteur hospital in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin for further medical evaluation and treatment.

On March 18, 2023, a dramatic medical evacuation unfolded near Ouessant as a 71-year-old passenger aboard the 'Santona' suffered a heart attack. The incident took place in the waters between Roscoff and Santander, prompting a swift response. Following a medical consultation, an NH 90 helicopter dispatched from the naval base in Lanvéoc took to the skies to assist the ailing traveler. The helicopter successfully reached the Fromveur area, located near the island of Ouessant, where a doctor was ready to provide immediate care. Later in the afternoon, the passenger was airlifted to Cavale Blanche hospital in Brest, where medical staff reported that his condition was stabilizing, alleviating initial concerns.