France
About the Flag
France is a member state of the EC, NATO, the OECD, the UN, and the IMO. It is located in Western Europe bordering the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel between Belgium and Spain. To the south it is between Italy and Spain and borders the Mediterranean Sea. The French Republic has two parliamentary chambers, a President and a Prime Minister. The capital is Paris, and it has a civil law legal system.
The French economy is highly developed and is a leader in agriculture and industry. Exports include machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs and agricultural products. The unit of currency is the Euro, and major trading partners include Germany, Italy, the United States, Luxembourg, and Belgium.
Ship Registers
There are several Ship Registers in France, namely:
1) Metropolitan France and French overseas departments (departments d’outre mer) Register;
2) International French Register;
3) French Polynesia Register;
4) New Caledonia Register;
5) Wallis and Futuna Register;
6) French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) Register, also known as the Kerguelen Islands Register.
The last four Registers mainly operate locally.
All types of sea-going vessels can be registered in the French Register. Registration in the French Register for vessels weighing 3 gross registered tonnes or below is optional, provided that they do not sail into territorial waters. Beach vessels or sports boat equipped with oars or paddles are excluded from registration. Vessels operating only in French territorial waters or between ports of French overseas department, as well as towing and services vessels operated in French territorial waters shall be registered in the French Register and cannot be registered in foreign registries.
In relation to the French Register, administration for registration of vessels is organised in administrative centers for maritime affairs (centre administratif départemental des affaires maritimes). There is one center in every département.
The International French Register replaced the Kerguelen Islands Register for trade vessels and commercially operated leisure vessels over 24 m in overall length.
Other commercially operated leisure vessels as well as shipping vessels and vessels used exclusively for marine or oil operation activities, provided they comply with some conditions (Law No. 96-151 of 26 February 1996; Decree No. 97-243 of 14 March 1997, as partially re-enacted in the Transportation Code that came into effect on 28 October 2010), can still be registered on the Kerguelen Island Register.
The International French Register (Registre International Français (RIF)) is a captive register, created in 2005 (Law No.2005-412 of 3 May 2005). It is administered through the Guichet unique (single window) located in Marseilles. As an EU registry the RIF guarantees access to the national waters of European Union member states cabotage(European home trade) provided the vessels are not solely operated on national cabotage (national home trade).
Vessels that can be registered on the RIF are:
1) Vessels engaged in the deep sea trade or in international cabotage (international costal navigation); and
2) Commercially operated leisure vessels over 24 m in overall length, manned with a professional crew.
Vessels that are not eligible to be registered on the RIF are the following:
1) Professional fishing vessels;
2) Passenger liner vessels trading between European Union countries, as well as on lines between the EU and Morocco, Algeria or Tunisia (French Decree n° 2006-142 of February 10, 2006);
3) Vessels operating only on national home trade (cabotage national); and
4) Vessels providing services in the area where specific port regulations apply (pilot’s launches, harbour tugs, signalling vessels, harbour maintenance dredgers).
The Editors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Christine Ezcutari and the staff at Norton Rose LLP | 40 rue de Courcelles | 75008 Paris, France
Tel: [33] (0) 1 56 59 50 00
Fax: [33] (0) 1 56 59 50 01
http://www.nortonrose.com
christine.ezcutari@nortonrose.com