The RIF is a French maritime registry to which the European Directives and bilateral conventions on social security signed by France apply in relation to social security matters along with national regulations.

Not all crew members employed on vessels registered with the RIF are automatically affiliated with the special seamen’s social security system managed by the national association for disabled mariners (ENIM). The place of residence is an essential criterion for defining the applicable social security system.

Crew members on board vessels registered with the RIF are recruited directly by the shipping company or by a maritime labour company for provision to the shipping company. In this latter instance, it is manning company that is the employer as it pays the crew member.

The manning company must be approved by the State authorities where it is established. If it is not legally authorised in France it can only be established abroad.

It is within this legal framework that determining the social protection for crew members employed on board vessels registered with the IF has been summarised in the following pages.