The RIF Office, your privileged interlocutor

For shipowners and their representatives, the RIF Office is the privileged interlocutor available for any operation or question related to the registration and management of ships and their crews.

Its team is composed of 9 agents who gather all required skills to deliver quality support to shipowners:

• 2 senior Managers: the Head of the RIF Office and the Deputy ;
• 3 specialized Managers:
  • a ship safety inspector (ship technical aspects and stability, security and safety at sea);
  • a person in charge of promoting the RIF and of crews (labor law, social protection, medical fitness, etc.);
  • a person in charge of tax matters (expertise for the different tax arrangements),
• 4 agents in charge of fleet management procedures (issuance of official documents, processing applications for endorsements and exemptions, etc.).

Organization chart of the RIF Office as of January 1, 2024.

A free, personalized and integrated public service

All operations performed with the RIF Office for the registration and management of ships are free of charge. The Office also offers a personalized service for new registrations, to facilitate the administrative procedures required for the registration ("francisation" and registration) of a ship.

Since January 1, 2022, the RIF Office is competent for the following matters:

• the registration of eligible vessels;
• the record of maritime mortgages for ships registered under the RIF;
• the issuance of Navigation title (permis d’armement) which includes the minimum safe manning document;
• the endorsement for the recognition of Equivalent professional competence for foreign officers (training, diplomas, certificates);
• the issuance of exemptions;
• the organization of the national evaluation jury, which verifies the knowledge of French language and legislation for the ranks of Captain and deputy;
• the issuance of various statements (e.g.: certificate of mortgage records).

Expertise and skills

Technical and safety matters for pleasure craft in commercial use (yachts)

Within the Office team, a ship safety inspector (ISN) is the direct interlocutor for all topics relating to the safety of professional yachts for commercial use.
The inspector performs all surveys and safety reviews for yachts. The work is fast and services are free of charge (only the travelling costs for the ship safety inspector travelling abroad are paid by the shipowner).

Crews

Since 2022, the RIF Office has been strengthened with a competent framework for all matters relating to management of crew under the RIF: maritime labor law, social protection for seafarers, medical fitness in France and abroad, endorsement for recognition of foreign professional titles, etc.

More information on this topic, follow the link: https://www.rif.mer.gouv.fr/crewing-r72.html

Taxation

Since 2022, the RIF Office has been strengthened with a competent framework for all the tax arrangements supporting the attractiveness of the RIF Flag: tax-based leasing, green extra depreciation, income tax exemption for seafarers, etc.

More information on this topic, follow the link: https://www.rif.mer.gouv.fr/finance-tax-insurance-r66.html

Contact the RIF Office

To get started on the right course, tell us more about your project at the earliest opportunity. Our team is available Monday to Friday, morning 9-12 and afternoon 2-5 pm.

Office (Guichet Unique) of the French International Register (RIF)
5 Place Sadi Carnot
13002 Marseille - France
Phone : + (33) 4.86.94.67.50
Email: rif@mer.gouv.fr