According to the Prefectural Decree N° 037/2020 - NAVIGATION OF VESSELS AND MARITIME ACTIVITIES IN FRENCH INLAND WATERS AND TERRITORIAL WATERS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN TO FACE THE 2019 CORONAVIRUS EPIDEMIC (COVID-19) – with some exceptions, all non-essential navigation and maritime activities are suspended until further notice.
To prevent the spread of the covid-19 virus all non-essential navigation and maritime activities are suspended in the French Mediterranean Sea.
Foreign-flagged vessels are authorized to exercise their right of passage to cross, continuously and rapidly, the French territorial sea or to reach the high seas. Those vessels shall not be authorized to anchor or stop along the French coasts.
French and foreign-flagged vessels are authorized to return to their home port on the French Mediterranean coast, if any. This return trip shall be declared to the following e-mail address: contact@premar-mediterranee.gouv.fr.
A port document for berth reservation must be kept onboard. After arrival at their home port, vessels will remain there until the end of the containment period.
There are few exceptions and only vessels listed below are authorized to navigate:
- commercial vessels providing logistical links;
- professional fishing vessels used in the course of their fishing activity;
- passenger vessels operating on a regular basis for territorial continuity;
- cruise ships and non-scheduled passenger ships whose port call is accepted by the authority vested with port police powers;
- ships used for works on infrastructure at sea or in ports;
- ships participating in marine scientific research campaigns or campaigns of strategic interest;
- ships under repair in a shipyard as part of a convoy or sea trials (subject to the express agreement);
- ships providing a pilotage service;
- ships providing a bunkering service for the benefit of other ships.
These ships are also authorized to anchor in compliance with the regulations in force.
In accordance with the provisions of the article 7 of the Decree n ° 37/2020 of March 20, 2020, violations of this decree shall expose their perpetrators to a maximum amount of 38 € fine under the penal code, as well as to one year imprisonment and 150,000€ fine under the transport code.
We will keep you updated on further changes and developments.
