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In French Guiana, call CROSS Antilles-Guyane on +596 596 70 92 92. Local short number: 196 — it may not connect from a foreign SIM, so the full number comes first. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.
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From official sources · checked 2026-10-14
The French rescue coordination centre for the Antilles and French Guiana is CROSS Antilles-Guyane. At sea, call it on VHF 16.
The local maritime administration (DGTM Guyane) tells boaters to always check the local weather forecast before going out, on meteofrance.fr.
Boats must carry one personal flotation device per person, and DGTM Guyane recommends wearing it at all times, especially when sailing alone.
A French recreational licence (permis plaisance, coastal option) is required to skipper a motorboat over 4.5 kW (6 hp) at sea. No licence is needed for a sailing boat. We found no official page on foreign licences.
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Who you are, where you are (latitude and longitude), what happened, how many people are aboard, and what your boat looks like.
How to make a MAYDAY call →That is a job for marine assistance, not sea rescue — keep the rescue line free for lives.
Mayday or a tow? →In French Guiana, call CROSS Antilles-Guyane on +596 596 70 92 92. Local short number: 196 — it may not connect from a foreign SIM, so the full number comes first. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.
We found no official source confirming that 112 reaches sea rescue in French Guiana. Call +596 596 70 92 92.
Short codes like 196 are routed by local phone networks and may not connect from a foreign SIM card while roaming. The full number +596 596 70 92 92 reaches the same service from any phone.
The one whose search-and-rescue area you are in — not the country of your SIM card. Near borders that can change during a trip; the VesselSOS app picks it from your GPS position.
A French recreational licence (permis plaisance, coastal option) is required to skipper a motorboat over 4.5 kW (6 hp) at sea. No licence is needed for a sailing boat. We found no official page on foreign licences.
Boats must carry one personal flotation device per person, and DGTM Guyane recommends wearing it at all times, especially when sailing alone.
The local maritime administration (DGTM Guyane) tells boaters to always check the local weather forecast before going out, on meteofrance.fr.
Numbers change. If this one has, tell us: support@vesselsos.com