St. Philibert was a small cruise ship sailing in the summer from the mouth of the Loire and near the coast. On 14 June 1931, nearly 500 people, mostly workers and their families from Nantes, embarked in the port of Nantes. 467 passengers were checked in. There were also children accompanying their parents who were not counted. Seven men from the crew, supervised by Captain Ollive, were responsible for ensuring smooth passage for the ship. The outbound trip was normal and St. Philibert docked at the on the Île de Noirmoutier.