CHARTER · SAINT-MARTIN

Chartering a boat in Saint-Martin: licence, rules and safety

Last verified: 14 October 2026

LICENCENo licence is needed to skipper a sailing yacht at sea. A French licence is required for motorboats over 4.5 kW (6 hp); on a French-flagged boat a foreign licence can be used under conditions — a non-EU visitor may use a licence from their own country within its limits, with a translation.

EMERGENCY AT SEACall CROSS Antilles-Guyane on +596 596 70 92 92. MAYDAY on VHF 16 · DSC 70.

Licence and charter rules

Licence: No licence is needed to skipper a sailing yacht at sea. A French licence is required for motorboats over 4.5 kW (6 hp); on a French-flagged boat a foreign licence can be used under conditions — a non-EU visitor may use a licence from their own country within its limits, with a translation.

Ministère de la Mer (France) · Ministère de la Mer (France) · DRIEAT Île-de-France (French State) ▾

mer.gouv.fr (2026-10-14): “Le permis est obligatoire pour piloter un bateau de plaisance à moteur lorsque la puissance de l’appareil propulsif est supérieure à 4,5 kilowatts (6 chevaux).”

mer.gouv.fr (2026-10-14): “La conduite en mer des navires à voile n’exige pas de permis.”

drieat.ile-de-france.developpement-durable.gouv.fr (2026-10-14): “Hors Union européenne Du pays du plaisancier OUI (1) dans la limite des prérogatives et traduction”

Charter: On a French-flagged charter boat, French licence rules apply (see licence). Renters should ask the charter company for the boat's 'registre de vérification spéciale', the annual safety-equipment check record required by Division 240.

Ministère de la Mer (France) · Ministère de la Mer (France) ▾

mer.gouv.fr (2026-10-14): “sur un bateau sous pavillon français : c’est la règlementation française en matière de titre de conduite qui s’applique même dans des eaux étrangères”

mer.gouv.fr (2026-10-14): “Locataire de navires de plaisance, demandez à votre loueur ce document (article 240-3.01 de la division 240 - Annexe 240-A.2 de la division 240).”

Arriving by boat

Every pleasure boat arriving from a foreign port, foreign waters or the high seas must clear in (and clear out on leaving) with French customs. Since 1 September 2024 clearance is done online at demarches-simplifiees.fr.

Douane française (DGDDI) · Douane française (DGDDI) ▾

douane.gouv.fr (2026-10-14): “Les formalités de « clearance », obligatoires pour l’entrée et la sortie des navires de plaisance naviguant dans les îles des Antilles françaises (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint-Barthélemy et Saint-Martin), sont modifiées à compter du 1er septembre 2024”

douane.gouv.fr (2026-10-14): “Elles doivent être réalisées de manière électronique sur le site internet suivant : demarches-simplifiees.fr.”

Season and weather

Météo-France gives the Atlantic cyclone season as 1 June – 30 November.

Météo-France Antilles-Guyane ▾

meteofrance.mq (2026-10-14): “pour toute la saison cyclonique (soit du 1er juin au 30 novembre)”

Forecast: Météo-France Guadeloupe issues the official marine forecasts (special warnings, coastal and offshore bulletins) for Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy at meteofrance.gp/fr/marine.

Météo-France Guadeloupe ▾

meteofrance.gp (2026-10-14): “METEO MARINE GUADELOUPE, SAINT-MARTIN ET SAINT-BARTHELEMY par Météo-France Guadeloupe - BMS, côtes et larges.”

Rules on the water

Life jackets: France's Division 240 (pleasure boats): even close inshore (within 2 miles of a shelter) every person aboard must have a quickly accessible lifejacket (EIF) of at least performance level 50, or wear a wetsuit/drysuit; children up to 30 kg need a level-100 EIF at any distance from shelter.

Ministère de la Mer (France) · Ministère de la Mer (France) ▾

mer.gouv.fr (2026-10-14): “Soit un équipement individuel de flottabilité (EIF), accessible rapidement et aisément, présentant un niveau de performance d’au moins 50”

mer.gouv.fr (2026-10-14): “les enfants de 30 kg maximum disposent d’un EIF de niveau de performance 100, quelle que soit la distance d’éloignement d’un abri.”

On the radio

Sea rescue in the French Antilles is coordinated by CROSS Antilles-Guyane (MRCC Fort-de-France), which keeps watch on VHF channel 16; French CROSS centres ask you to call on VHF 16 at sea.

Direction de la mer Martinique (CROSS AG report 2024) · Ministère de la Mer (France) ▾

dm.martinique.developpement-durable.gouv.fr (2026-10-14): “CROSS Antilles-Guyane 16, boulevard de la Marne 97200 Fort-de-France Standard et urgences au "196" Radio VHF canal 16”

mer.gouv.fr (2026-10-14): “En cas d’urgence sur le littoral, contactez-les par téléphone au 196 et par Radio VHF sur le canal 16 depuis la mer.”

CROSS Antilles-Guyane broadcasts the coastal forecast on VHF from a transmitter at Pic Paradis, Saint-Martin: channel 64 at 09:00, 12:30, 20:00 and 22:00 local time (2022 Météo-France table).

Météo-France Antilles-Guyane ▾

meteofrance.mq (2026-10-14): “Saint Martin – Pic Paradis 09h00- 12h30- 20h00- 22h00 64 160,825 mHz”

Before you sail

All rescue numbers for Saint-Martin Print an emergency card Person overboard: what to do Engine failure: what to do when you lose power Thunderstorms, lightning and squalls on the water: what to do Ran aground? What to do

Frequently asked

Do I need a licence to charter a boat in Saint-Martin?

No licence is needed to skipper a sailing yacht at sea. A French licence is required for motorboats over 4.5 kW (6 hp); on a French-flagged boat a foreign licence can be used under conditions — a non-EU visitor may use a licence from their own country within its limits, with a translation.

What are the rules for bareboat charter in Saint-Martin?

On a French-flagged charter boat, French licence rules apply (see licence). Renters should ask the charter company for the boat's 'registre de vérification spéciale', the annual safety-equipment check record required by Division 240.

When is the best time to sail in Saint-Martin, and when is storm season?

Météo-France gives the Atlantic cyclone season as 1 June – 30 November.

How do I clear in when arriving in Saint-Martin by boat?

What is the emergency number at sea in Saint-Martin?

Call CROSS Antilles-Guyane on +596 596 70 92 92. 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.