Statistics about the number of French seafarers onboard RIF vessels

The French flag’s international register certainly offers a large number of advantages that make it attractive and competitive. But in return for the investment made by shipping companies, France benefits from the establishment of economic players who create jobs on its territory.

3 categories of jobs can be identified:

• jobs at sea on board ships;
• direct jobs ashore in shipping companies and shipmanagers;
• indirect jobs ashore in private seafarers recruitment and placement services (manning agencies), insurers, law firms, banks, shipyards, etc.

Employment at sea on board ships

The statistics ¹ relating to the number of French seafarers embarked on vessels registered with the RIF underline the dynamic of French maritime employment that the development of the RIF is bringing about.

At 31/12/2023, 4,216 seafarers of French nationality were embarked on vessels registered in the RIF. Of these seafarers, 3,806 were affiliated to the ENIM (social regime for seafarers).
Since 2017, there have been 1,264 more French seafarers on board vessels registered in the RIF.

Caution : the number of French seafarers in the "French seafarers on RIF ships" line is not equal to the total of the "maritime transport", offshore services" and "commercial yachts" lines. A person may have sailed on several types of vessel during the same year but is only counted once in the first line.

Direct and indirect jobs ashore

At this stage, the RIF Office does not have a clear and exhaustive view of all the jobs created ashore in France in connection with the registration of ships under the French flag.

One example can nevertheless be given: in 2021, the choice of the RIF by the Norwegian shipowner Knutsen for its fleet of LNG tankers resulted in the creation in France of the subsidiary Knutsen LNG France. This subsidiary, whose activities are split between Nantes and Marseille, manages the 11 vessels and crews registered with the RIF, under the French flag.

In the spring of 2023["Two years after its creation, Knutsen LNG France has become a full-fledged shipowner", Thibaut Teillard, Le Marin, 03/04/2023]], its chairman and managing director, Mr Ludovic Gérard, told newspaper Le Marin that in 2 years of operation, the shipowner had made a positive contribution to maritime employment in France:

• 40 French officers on board vessels registered with the RIF;
• 21 French officer cadets from the ENSM are being trained on board these ships (with good job prospects behind them);
• 15 people ashore in France to manage this growing activity.

With 11 vessels progressively registered with the RIF since 09/2022, Knutsen LNG France is continuing to invest in France. Eventually, the Norwegian shipowner will have registered 24 LNG tankers with the RIF, creating many new jobs.

The attractiveness of the RIF is therefore beneficial for maritime employment in France, and in particular for French seafarers.