Yachts≤ 24 meters

Common technical framework

This division covers the conditions for operation, life-saving and safety equipments, for any type of pleasure craft and in particular those for commercial use.

Technical framework adapted for CE marked ships

Since July 2008, France has technical regulations in place dedicated to pleasure craft for commercial use with a hull length of 24 m or less, in Division 241.

This regulation is largely based on the CE marking of ships as far as construction is concerned. Division 241 incorporates adapted requirements for equipment such as life-saving appliances, radiocommunications, etc.

Technical framework for ships excluded from the CE marking

The scope of Division 245 is aimed at ships excluded from the scope of Directive n° 94/25CE and which are therefore not subject to the CE marking. Examples of ships, crafts, boats with a hull length of 24 m or less excluded from the CE marking:

• amateur-built ships and watercrafts with propulsion;
• ships and watercraft with propulsion subject to substantial modifications when they were not CE marked;
• crafts propelled by human power;
• craft using lifting powerer;
• hydrofoils, etc.

Register an existing yacht under the RIF

The owner of an existing yacht, who wishes to register under the RIF, may request an evaluation survey. Carried out by the RIF safety inspector, the survey is a mean to establish quickly if there are technical differences between the yacht and the applicable regulations. This is useful to estimate the necessary expenses to ensure compliance for registration under the French flag. On request, the RIF technical expert will come on board for a complete verification of the ship. Within 24 hours, you will receive a survey report.

Register a yacht under construction with the RIF

The owner of a yacht under construction, who wishes to register under the RIF, shall fill in the declaration of construction (DMC in French). It is in particular used to indicate the future use of the yacht. Throughout the construction, the RIF safety inspector may perform special surveys to ensure that the characteristics and equipment of the ship comply with French and international regulations.

Approval

Commercial yachts ≤ 24 meters (hull length) are approved by the interregional Director of the sea (DIRM or Director of the sea for overseas) on recommendation by the regional safety commission (CRS in French). ¹ The composition of each CRS is set by Article 21 of the modified Decree n ° 84-810 (shipyards, inspectors, seamen representatives, shipowners representatives, classification society, …). Before issuing its recommendation, the Commission may request any examination, review, investigation, survey as deemed necessary. Reviews performed by regional safety commission are free of charge.

The regional safety commission CRS reviews plans and documents for their approval. For CE marked ships (Divisions 240 + 241), the application review for the ship commissioning (MSN in French) consists in a verification of the declaration of conformity (DEC in French) and the CE certificate.

A ship approval may be quick; it depends on the quality of the technical file sent for review by the commission.

Safety documents

Based on the applicable regulatory provisions, ships are issued, during the commissioning survey, different safety documents (renewable thereafter):

• navigation licence (this document mentions in particular the navigation category or categories, the maximum number of persons on board, any restrictions …), which is issued with or without validity period;
• statement for the tonnage;
• certificate for the prevention of pollution by sewage (only for ships authorized to carry more than 15 persons);
• international certificate for the prevention of air pollution (only for ships with propulsion engines with an output of 130 Kw or above).

These documents shall be kept on board.

The RIF technical expert: single point of contact

The RIF’s ships safety surveyor is the link between the shipowner and the various stakeholders in the administration:

• the safety commission (CCS)
• the ship safety center (CSN).