This document is aimed as a guide to filling in the official forms related to the RIF
The list of attachments in each case appears on each of these forms.
The Guichet Unique is of course at your disposal for any additional questions.

1/ Name reservation

For any additions of new or second-hand vessels to your fleet you must provide the Guichet Unique with the form: Request for reservation of name, number and tonnage for registration of a new vessel. (Cerfa n° 12701*01)
For any shipbuilding in France, this document also serves as a declaration of the building of the ship which is mandatory under article 5 of decree 67-967, chapter. II, art 5: Shipbuilding: "Anyone who builds a ship for their own account or on behalf of a customer must declare this to the competent administrative authority."
You are requested to suggest three names as a check will be made that the names you propose may not be confused with existing vessels.
Moreover, the names suggested by you may not disrupt service and communications and therefore name such as "Breakdown", "Mayday" or "Latitude 45" cannot be put forward.
The Guichet Unique will send you a name and number reservation certificate in response to this request.
The other departments with which you will need to deal will be informed of your request and will be in contact with you.
The tonnage level office responsible for vessels registered with the RIF is Marseille, but should you wish to be in contact with another level office for proximity or precedence reasons then you will need to make the request by mail.
If this addition to the fleet under the French Flag RIF was cancelled then the Guichet Unique will need to be informed by a simple mail.

2/ Registration under the French Flag and vessel registration

Once you know your vessel’s delivery date with adequate precision, i.e. within around two weeks to one month, please send us the form: Request for registration under the French Flag and for vessel registration with the French Flag RIF. (Cerfa n° 12704*01)
In terms of the home port which is the location in the customs receipt where the elements concerning ownership and mortgages are preserved, this is the one that you request and not the existing home port in the case of a registry transfer or a change in ownership.
The registration port for vessels registered with the RIF and which appears on the ship’s stern is Marseille.

3/ Request for a change in ownership for a vessel registered with the French Flag RIF or for a transfer to the French Flag for a vessel already registered in France

In terms of the home port and the names the same applies as above in the event that you wish to make a change.
Form Request for a change of ownership in a vessel (Cerfa n° 12702*01)

4/ Declaration of a vessel exiting the fleet

This request must also be made in the event that a request is made to suspend flying under a flag for sailing a bareboat charter abroad.
Form Declaration of a vessel exiting the fleet (Cerfa n° 12703*01)
If the vessel is mortgaged then the mortgage release formalities must be completed on the vessel’s home port customs receipt.
In the special case of vessels that have enjoyed special tax arrangements then it should also be ensured that the periods provided for remaining under the RIF are respected.