1) Is the French International Register (RIF) an EU registry?
Yes. The RIF is a EU registry, which guarantees to the vessels registered in it access to national European Union members states waters cabotage provided they are not solely exploited on national cabotage.

2) Which vessels can be registered in the RIF?

 Vessels employed in deep sea trades or international cabotage can be registered in the RIF,
 Commercial yachts over 24 m in overall length manned with a professional crew can also be registered.

3) Which vessels cannot be registered in the RIF?

 Passenger vessels trading between European Union countries, as well as on some lines between the EU and third countries,
 Vessels operating only on national cabotage, or providing services in area where port regulations applies (such as boatmen’s and pilot’s launches, harbour tugs, signalling vessels, harbour maintenance dredgers),
 Professional fishing vessels.

4) Which are the rules applicable in regard with safety, security, and environmental protection?
Vessels registered in the RIF are submitted to all rules regarding safety, security, and environmental protection in force as per French law, European regulations and France international commitments.

5) Whom do I have to address to contact the RIF?
The “Guichet unique” of the Rif, located in Marseille.
Adress

6) What is the role of the "guichet unique”?
The RIF Guichet Unique is the unique entry point of the ship owner/operator for any operation regarding registration and “francisation”. It receives and manages any demand regarding these procedures. It will also intervene to facilitate relations between the owner and the various administration departments any time the ship owner will need it for any operations regarding his vessel.

7) Can vessels belonging to endowment funds be registered with the French Flag RIF?
Vessels held by endowment funds within the meaning of law no. 2008-776 of 4 August 2008 can be registered with the RIF.
In addition to the file, endowment funds must present the declaration of the fund creation submitted to the prefecture of the department within the jurisdiction of the registered office and published in the Official Gazette (see article 2 of law no. 2008-776) along with the by-laws of the fund.

8) Can vessels belonging to Swiss natural persons or legal entities be registered with the French Flag RIF?
Vessels belonging to Swiss nationals or companies where the registered office is located in Switzerland cannot be registered with theRIF.
Article 219 of the Customs Code which defines the conditions for obtaining a registration under the French Flag, limits, except for some exceptions, (vessels under a lease and those with special approval), registration of vessels under the French Flag to those vessels belonging at least half to:

• nationals of a Member State of the European Community (EC) or of a State which is party to the agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) who, if they reside for less than 6 months of the year in France, must elect domicile there (article 219-I-2-A) of the Customs Code);
• companies with their registered office of their main headquarters on the territory of the French Republic or of another Member State of the EC or another State which is party to the EEA agreement, subject in these last two cases to the vessel being managed and controlled from a permanent establishment located on French territory (article 219-I-2-B of the Customs Code);
• nationals of an EC Member State of a State which is party to the agreement on the EEA fulfilling the condition provided in article 219-I-2-A of the Code (election of domicile) and companies fulfilling the conditions provided in article 219-I-2-B of the Code (management and control by a permanent establishment located in France).
  
  

9) What formalities need to be carried out when importing a vessel?
Importing a commercial vessel into the European Community requires some customs clearance formalities to be completed (submission of a declaration to the customs office, model IM4 for a final import).
Once these formalities have been completed, the vessel acquires the status of community goods: it is considered to have a regular customs status and can sail freely throughout the European Union without any restrictions.
If it is then subsequently exported outside of the European Union by submission of an export declaration, it must be subject to import formalities again if it re-enters Community waters. By being exported, it will lose its status as Community goods (article 4 point 8 of the Community Customs Code provides that a vessel should keep its customs status as Community goods for as long as it has not been exported outside the European Union).

10) What documents must be provided for a commercial or a commercial yacht l in order for it to benefit from the exemption from VAT provided in article 262 of the CGI; what documentary evidence must a supplier delivering ex VAT keep in the event of an inspection?
See page 5 of the official mail from the Tax Law Department dated 3 April 2008 (Format pdf - 326.9 kb - 01/04/2009)

11) What documents and other deeds of security must be kept aboard a commercial yacht?
It all depends on the tonnage of the relevant yacht. The table attached details the security deeds and documents that must be kept permanently aboard commercial yachts depending on the tonnage. See Security deeds depending on the tonnage (Format pdf - 42 kb - 27/01/2011)

12) Are there any differences between the MCA LY2 code and the division 242?
Yes. First of all the division 242 only covers the chapters on construction from the British code, the other chapters already existing in other French laws (workforce, inspection regime, pollution prevention, ISPS, ISM, etc.). One other important different which should be noted relates to short-range vessels: the limit imposed on these vessels in terms of wind strength is set at 6 Beaufort in the division 242 (force 4 in the MCA LY2).

13) What should I do if my vessel is classified by a classification society which is not approved in France?
The vessel has to be reclassified by one of the five societies approved in France:

• Bureau Veritas
• Det Norske Veritas
• Germanisher Lloyd
• Lloyd Register
• Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)
  
  

14) What is the cost of a technical visit from the inspectors from the French Flag RIF?
These are free of charge throughout France (mainland France and the overseas territories). The shipping company is responsible for the travel and accommodation costs of the agents for any inspections abroad.

15) Can the owner of a commercial aycht registered with the RIF also utilise the yacht for personal use?
Yes, on the condition that the yacht ischartered at the market rate and the charter contract and evidence of payment can be presented in the event of an inspection.

16) What documents can be requested by Customs during a sea inspection?
See response from the Mediterranean coastguard related to the evidence to be produced during a Customs inspection (Format pdf - 317 kb - 01/02/2011)