Designation of the ship safety center (CSN)

Definition of ship safety centers (CSN)

Ship safety centers (CSN in French) are specialized services under the interregional directorates of the sea (DIRM - Hexagon) and the directorates of the sea (DM - Overseas).

Each safety center is a regional service for the prevention of maritime occupational risks. Its main task is to survey French professional ships holding a navigation licence (safety document).

The center ensures compliance with international conventions or national regulations in terms of safety, pollution prevention and, when appropriate, security and social certification.

In application of Articles L. 5241-3 and L. 5241-4 of the Transport Code, a French ship is not allowed to sail without holding the required safety documents or pollution prevention certificates.

Under the authority of the Head of the ship safety center, the inspectors for ship safety and prevention of maritime occupational risks (ISNPRPM in French) are responsible in particular for the general monitoring of:

• ship building;
• ship safety conditions;
• maritime occupational safety;
• prevention of pollution by ships.

Together with Seafarers doctors, they control the ship habitability and may be assisted by any person or organization as deemed necessary, particularly for radiocommunication and navigation equipment using telecommunication technology.

French ships shall meet the requirements set by regulations:

• modified decree n° 84-810 of August 30, 1984 on the safety of life at sea, pollution prevention, safety and social certification of ships;
• amended order of 23 November 1987 on the safety of ships.

The inspectors are the privileged interlocutors of crew members, shipowners, representatives of shipbuilding yards and any professionals in the maritime industry who intervene on board ships.

The inspectors visit French ships but also foreign ships as part of the port State control.

The safety centers are located throughout French metropolitan and overseas coasts.

Safety centers missions

The French ship inspection mission is characterized by its increasing diversification: beyond matters inherent to ship safety, the inspectors also act on the following:

• ship security: application of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), for measures against malicious acts against ships and ports;
• environment: application of numerous provisions to minimize the environmental impacts of ships (antifouling paints, discharge criteria, etc.);
• social: application of the International Maritime Labor Convention (MLC, 2006) and issuance of social certification for commercial ships.

The high standards of French merchant ships has been recognized for years: the French flag is ranked among the best flags calling in European and Canadian ports, based on the classification of the Paris Memorandum for port State control (Paris MoU).

Surveys by inspectors’ are free of charge on the national territory; abroad, their travelling and accommodation fees are paid by the shipowner.

Designation of the competent ship safety center for each ship

The safety center (CSN) responsible for the ship commissioning is the one of the district where the ship construction takes place.

For ships built abroad, the safety center responsible for commissioning is normally that of the ship’s registration or shipowner district, or, possibly, another center as designated by the State Secretariat for the Sea.

The designation of the competent center for a transport or service ship registered with the RIF is the responsibility of the sub-directorate for safety and ecological transition of ships (STEN) of the Directorate general for maritime affairs, fisheries and aquaculture (DGAMPA).