Chartering a boat in France: licence, rules and safety
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LICENCEA French boating licence (permis plaisance) is required for motor boats over 4.5 kW (6 hp). EU citizens may skipper a French-flagged motor boat with a valid EU-issued licence within its limits.
EMERGENCY AT SEACall CROSS Gris-Nez on 196. MAYDAY on VHF 16 · DSC 70.
Licence and charter rules
Licence: A French boating licence (permis plaisance) is required for motor boats over 4.5 kW (6 hp). EU citizens may skipper a French-flagged motor boat with a valid EU-issued licence within its limits.
Ministère chargé de la mer (mer.gouv.fr) · Ministère chargé de la mer (mer.gouv.fr) ▾
Charter: When renting a pleasure boat, ask the rental company for the boat's mandatory special inspection register (registre de vérification spéciale), which records maintenance and safety-equipment checks.
Ministère chargé de la mer (mer.gouv.fr) ▾
Arriving by boat
From a non-Schengen country (e.g. the UK) you must enter France at a maritime border crossing point during its opening hours. Alternatively, 53 listed marinas accept arrivals: the skipper asks the harbour office for permission and sends it the border-control form (people on board) at least 24 h before arrival.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects · Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects · Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects ▾
Season and weather
Forecast: The CROSS announces weather bulletins on VHF 16 and reads them on channels 79 and 80; Météo-France special bulletins (BMS, gale warnings) are also broadcast via channel 16. Channels 63 and 64 carry a continuous coastal forecast loop in the Morbihan, Charente-Maritime and the Mediterranean (not Corsica).
Ministère chargé de la mer (mer.gouv.fr) · Ministère chargé de la mer (mer.gouv.fr) ▾
Rules on the water
Life jackets: Division 240 requires a lifejacket (EIF) for every person on board: at least 50 N within 2 nm of a shelter, 100 N from 2 to 6 nm (with some exceptions), and 150 N beyond 6 nm. Children up to 30 kg need a 100 N lifejacket at any distance.
Ministère chargé de la mer (Division 240, ed. 30/10/2024) · Ministère chargé de la mer (Division 240, ed. 30/10/2024) · Ministère chargé de la mer (Division 240, ed. 30/10/2024) · Ministère chargé de la mer (Division 240, ed. 30/10/2024) ▾
Ajaccio / Bonifacio: Within 300 m of the shore, of islets and rocks, and of harbour walls, the speed limit is 5 knots.
Préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée, arrêté n° 109/2024 ▾
Ajaccio / Bonifacio: Along the Bonifacio coast, the maritime prefect has set no-anchoring zones (ZIM) inside the 300 m strip where anchoring of any kind is banned. In the buoyed access channels the limit is 5 knots, going straight in or out.
Préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée, arrêté n° 34/2025 · Préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée, arrêté n° 34/2025 ▾
Ajaccio / Bonifacio: In the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve around the Lavezzi islands, four zones are closed at all times to navigation, anchoring and stopping, for 5 years from the 2023 order.
Préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée, arrêté n° 235/2023 ▾
Côte d'Azur (Antibes / Cannes): The 300 m coastal band off Antibes and off Cannes is regulated by decrees of the French Maritime Prefect for the Mediterranean. Buoyed access channels to the shore have a 5-knot speed limit, and stopping and anchoring in them are banned.
Préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée, arrêté n° 354/2026 (Antibes, 24 August 2026) · Préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée, arrêté n° 251/2026 (Cannes, 2 July 2026) ▾
Côte d'Azur (Antibes / Cannes): Off Antibes, personal watercraft (jet skis) are banned inside the buoyed 300 m coastal band, except in access channels No. 1 and No. 6 at no more than 5 knots.
Préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée, arrêté n° 354/2026 (Antibes, 24 August 2026) ▾
La Trinité-sur-Mer and the Gulf of Morbihan: Golfe du Morbihan speed limits: 5 knots within 300 m of the shore, 10 knots elsewhere (10 knots allowed in the channels at Gavrinis, Port-Blanc, Pointe d'Arradon and Conleau). Do not land on islands under biotope protection orders between 15 April and 31 August; anchoring is prohibited south of Île Longue; do not anchor in eelgrass beds.
Parc naturel régional du Golfe du Morbihan – guide « Cap sur la petite mer » · Parc naturel régional du Golfe du Morbihan – guide « Cap sur la petite mer » · Parc naturel régional du Golfe du Morbihan – guide « Cap sur la petite mer » · Parc naturel régional du Golfe du Morbihan – guide « Cap sur la petite mer » · Parc naturel régional du Golfe du Morbihan – guide « Cap sur la petite mer » ▾
Hazards and warnings
Dover Strait (Pas-de-Calais) traffic separation scheme: 'unorthodox' crossings by unregistered craft or light boats are strictly prohibited.
Préfecture maritime de la Manche et de la mer du Nord ▾
Ajaccio / Bonifacio: Off the runway of Ajaccio airport, restricted zones apply in the gulf. Beyond the 300 m strip, boats with an air draft (mast height) of 20 m or more may not navigate or anchor there.
Préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée, arrêté of 20 July 2026 (golfe d’Ajaccio, aéroport) ▾
La Trinité-sur-Mer and the Gulf of Morbihan: The Gulf of Morbihan has very strong tidal streams: the current at La Jument sometimes exceeds 9 knots, one of the fastest in Europe. Shifting sandbanks, many oyster parks and dense traffic make pilotage demanding; use chart SHOM 7137 L and check tide times, which differ by location.
Parc naturel régional du Golfe du Morbihan – guide « Cap sur la petite mer » · Parc naturel régional du Golfe du Morbihan – guide « Cap sur la petite mer » · Parc naturel régional du Golfe du Morbihan – guide « Cap sur la petite mer » ▾
On the radio
At sea, call on VHF channel 16: it connects you directly with the CROSS (regional rescue centre) for your area.
Ministère chargé de la mer (mer.gouv.fr) ▾
Charter bases in France
Before you sail
Frequently asked
Do I need a licence to charter a boat in France?
A French boating licence (permis plaisance) is required for motor boats over 4.5 kW (6 hp). EU citizens may skipper a French-flagged motor boat with a valid EU-issued licence within its limits.
What are the rules for bareboat charter in France?
When renting a pleasure boat, ask the rental company for the boat's mandatory special inspection register (registre de vérification spéciale), which records maintenance and safety-equipment checks.
When is the best time to sail in France, and when is storm season?
The CROSS announces weather bulletins on VHF 16 and reads them on channels 79 and 80; Météo-France special bulletins (BMS, gale warnings) are also broadcast via channel 16. Channels 63 and 64 carry a continuous coastal forecast loop in the Morbihan, Charente-Maritime and the Mediterranean (not Corsica).
How do I clear in when arriving in France by boat?
From a non-Schengen country (e.g. the UK) you must enter France at a maritime border crossing point during its opening hours. Alternatively, 53 listed marinas accept arrivals: the skipper asks the harbour office for permission and sends it the border-control form (people on board) at least 24 h before arrival.
What is the emergency number at sea in France?
Call CROSS Gris-Nez on 196. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.
Other charter countries
Every line above is a plain-English summary of an official source — open “▾” for the exact wording. Rules change: confirm with your charter company and the local authority.