French lifeboat crews are likely to get legal protection against claims from those they rescue. Three people rescued last year in the Mediterranean took legal action against the French lifeboat service SNSM, claiming that their boats had been damaged while being towed to safety.

An SNSM spokesman said that while only a tiny minority of boat owners have this mercenary attitude, lifeboat crews have voiced their concerns about the trend. As a result it will set up a legal commission to ensure the crews get the protection they require.