1) Are there any rules regarding the crew nationality?
At least 25% of the crew for ships registered in the RIF, based on the minimum safe manning document (SMD), must be EU or EAA nationals. The minimum safe manning document, in accordance with IMO A 890/21 resolution, is the international document through which French authorities states that the crew of the said vessel complies with international conventions relating to safety at sea. For ships benefiting of the fiscal aid scheme for ship purchase, the percentage is set at 35 for the duration of the aid scheme.

2) Are there any special rules regarding the master and the chief mate?
The master and his relief, who may be the chief engineer, must be citizens of the UE or the EAA, provided they comply with certain conditions of knowledge of French language and law.

3) Is the ship owner/operator involved in training?
Yes. Any ship owner running ships registered in the RIF will have to take part in the training of young officers in view of the promotion of the merchant navy officers’ careers.

4) How are the seafarers hired?
Seafarers sailing on board vessels registered in the RIF are hired by the ship owner/operator. Seafarers living outside France can also be placed at the owner’s disposal by a manning agency.

5) Which guarantees must a maritime manning agency show to be authorised to place seamen at owner’s disposal?
The manning contract can only be passed with a manning agency showing evidence of agreement by the State authorities of its home country. Whenever the law of the said country does not require such agreement or when the agency is established in a country where ILO 179 convention on recruitment and placement of seafarers is not in force, the ship owner/operator will make sure the manning agency nevertheless respects its requirements.

6) What is the status of seafarers residing in France?
Seafarers residing in France, whatever their nationality, are submitted to French laws, amongst others regarding health insurance and pension scheme.

7) What is the social coverage protection for seafarers residing in France?
Seafarers residing in France are covered by the seamen’s special social security system (ENIM). Seamen who had been sailing prior to 31 March 1999 on board foreign flag vessels can, on demand, when they are sailing on a ship registered in the RIF, keep the benefit of the social insurances they had contracted prior to that date.

8) What is the social coverage for seafarers residing outside France?
The terms of employment and the social security coverage for seafarers residing outside France, are subject to the minimum requirement set by the law creating the RIF, but otherwise determined by the contractual stipulations of the parties and the applicable law as determined in the contract. Also, Hiring, working and living on board conditions on a vessel registered in the RIF cannot be less favourable than the ones resulting from the ILO conventions ratified by France. In the same way, social protection cannot be less favourable than the one resulting from the ILO conventions applicable to seafarers and bi-lateral social security conventions between France and the countries from where the seafarers are originated.

9) What are the health and pension schemes for seafarers residing outside France?
Seamen residing in a EU member state or EEA nationals or citizens of a state having a bilateral social security convention with France will have the benefit of a social security and pension scheme as per the conditions of the European rules or the applicable bilateral convention.

Seafarers who are not residing in a EU member state or who are not EEA nationals or citizens of a state having a bi-lateral social security convention are insured against disease, accident, maternity, invalidity and are included in a pension scheme.

10) What is the minimum remuneration for seafarers residing outside France?
The wages for seafarers residing outside France cannot be less than the minimum fixed by the December 30th 2005 regulation of the minister in charge of the merchant marine. The minimum wage for a qualified seafarer residing outside France is currently set at USD 620.05 for 208 working hours per month.

11) What form does the contract have for a seafarer residing outside France?
The contract is established in writing and as per article 3 of ILO Seamen’s Articles of Agreement Convention (C22). It is given to the seaman who will keep it on board as long as he or she is staying on the ship.