FRENCH YACHT REGISTRATION
Rules and Regulations
All yachts - exception made of beach devices – must comply with navigation registry formalities (decree of 30th Nov. 1999).
Yachts with a French flag, sailing in foreign waters and whatever tonnage, must also be registered with the French « Affaires Maritimes » (i.e. Navigation Office) and with French Customs.
When applying for a French flag, the navigation enrolment follows the French customs formalities.
The registration request for a yacht is to be sent to the local Head Department of the
Affaires Maritimes, of its homeport.
A registry application must enclose the following documents :
- Certificate of compliance for yachts with the “CE” approval ;
- Gross registered tonnage certificate of compliance for standard yachts, or builder’s compliance and tonnage certificate for other vessels.
Note 1. For a French Flag, the navigation registry certificate is part of the “Acte de Francisation et Titre de Navigation”: this single document will therefore be used in formalities both with Customs and Navigation Authorities.
Note 2. Any change in the yacht’s specifications (ownership, homeport, engine, name, navigation class…) must be notified and will be subject to a new navigation registry request.
Registration Number
The registration number includes and starts with the initial letters of the town of registry followed by six numbers.
The registration number is an external identity sign for yachts with an engine over 10 horsepower.
