Aptitude for master and his/her substitute functions
Captain and his/her substitute
It is also specified in the same article L. 5612-3 of the Transport Code that the captain and the substitute 1, as ensuring the safety of the ship and its crew, the protection of the environment and security, shall be nationals of a member State of the European Union, a State party to the agreement on the European Economic Area or Switzerland or a State party to any international agreement with same scope in terms of residence and working rights. Access to the ranks mentioned above is subject to holding professional qualifications and the verification of the knowledge of French language and legal matters at a level appropriate to maintain on-board documentation and to exercise the public authority prerogatives as vested to the master. A decree specifies the conditions for the application of this provision.
The above-mentioned knowledge criteria may be satisfied, in the absence of the chief mate on a commercial vessel, by the chief engineer.
Temporary easing for fleet growth
For each ship registered under the RIF which complements a fleet operated under the French flag by a shipowner, a ship operated by this shipowner and registered under the RIF may have on board only one person who meets the requirements for knowledge of the French language and legal matters mentioned in art. L. 5612-3 of the Transport Code, either the captain, or the substitute, or, in the absence of a chief mate on a commercial ship, the chief engineer, for a period of 2 years following the registration of the ship granting this right. This option is withdrawn if the beneficiary fleet decreases during the 2-year period. The condition related to the fleet growth is assessed over the 18 months preceding registration.
1. The substitute officer designates the deck officer whose rank comes immediately after that of the master and who is performing substitute functions. The presence on board of a substitute officer is required for any ship whose minimum safe manning document includes at least two deck officers.