Les Vedettes Blanches, Maritime monument in Dinard, France
Les Vedettes Blanches is a ferry boat that operates heritage tours between Saint-Malo and Dinan, measuring roughly 20 meters in length. The steel vessel carries up to 150 passengers and now operates under the name Commandant O'Neill.
The vessel was built in 1935 and deliberately sunk in 1939 to keep German forces from seizing it during World War II. It was later raised and restored to return it to service after many years of absence.
The vessel embodies the memory of how coastal communities once relied on ferries to connect across the water, before bridges changed everything. Locals view it as a symbol of their maritime roots and the role water played in shaping daily life.
The boat offers tours best enjoyed in fair weather conditions when the water is calmer. Wearing comfortable shoes is advisable, as boarding and moving around the deck can be unsteady depending on the sea state.
The boat was deliberately sunk and hidden for decades during the German occupation before being recovered and brought back to life. This survival story makes every voyage a journey through a piece of local resilience and wartime ingenuity.
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