Maritime France, a framework for successful investments

Published on 10/05/2023 | Updated 05/02/2024

A favorable environment for maritime investments

The development of the RIF since 2005 has been part of a public policy marked by stability. Thus, for shipowners, choosing the French flag brings regulatory stability and fiscal stability.
In parallel, France has maintained and developed assets to strengthen its maritime attractiveness:

superior training programs for dual purpose merchant navy officers (ENSM and other approved academies) ;
French banking institutions (BNP Paribas and Crédit agricole) 1st and 5th in the international ranking of lenders granting loans for shipping finance;
3rd State in terms of number of ratified conventions, France has played a very active role in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) since its creation, as a member of the Council re-elected without interruption, under the category "States with large interest in international maritime trade".

France, a maritime power

Thanks to its numerous overseas territories, France is present on 5 of the 6 continents: Europe, Africa, America, Antarctica and Oceania.

France Maritime relies internationally on the French diplomatic network. With 168 embassies, the French consular network is the 3rd in the world. It is a flagship asset that very few states benefit from.

A maritime power by its geography (2nd exclusive economic zone EEZ in the world), France can also rely on its infrastructures: 66 commercial ports, including 11 large maritime ports (GPM) managed by the State, permanent airport capacities connecting metropolitan France to its overseas territories and the rest of the world, 9 maritime and rescue coordination centers (MRCC) in France and overseas, 23 submarine telecommunications lines which leave and arrive in France (1st rank in Europe), a center for receiving COSPAS-SARSAT alerts (FMCC Toulouse), a medical remote assistance center for seafarers (MMCC Toulouse), etc.
These assets, amplified by its political and institutional stability, make France a first choice for maritime investments.

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