In accordance with Decree No. 2020-1454 of 27 November 2020 from the Ministry of Solidarity and Health, which lays down general measures necessary to manage the COVID-19 epidemic within the framework of the state of health emergency, the Maritime Prefecture of the Mediterranean has issued a new order, number 238/2020 of 30 November 2020, available online on the Maritime Prefecture of the Mediterranean's website.
Access to ports and the Mediterranean coastline remains subject to authorisations issued locally by the competent territorial authorities.
In application of prefectural order 238/2020:
– Activities previously authorised (including all professional activities) remain authorised;
– Recreational and nautical leisure activities are now permitted subject to compliance with government measures. There is no longer a specific sea-going certificate: the certificate is the same as that used on land.;
– Nautical events remain prohibited, unless their arrangements are compatible with the provisions of the previously cited decree (in particular, a maximum of 6 people at gatherings);
– Any vessel flying a foreign flag is authorised to pass, continuously and rapidly, through French territorial waters or to reach the high seas. It is also authorised to reach its home port when it is located on the French Mediterranean coast or a shipyard, provided it has a repair contract with the latter;
– Foreign vessels flying a flag outside the Schengen area are not permitted to anchor or stop along the French coast, except under the exceptions provided for in Article 2 of Decree No. 85-185 of 6 February 1985 and in cases of force majeure.
After several weeks of inactivity for crews and pleasure boaters, and thus a period without routine checks and maintenance of equipment, the maritime prefecture recommends proceeding before any outing at sea with:
- checking their fitness.
- the check of the general condition of the vessel (engine, sails, anchor, etc.); ;
- compliance and the condition of obligatory safety equipment ;
- manoeuvrability control ;
- checking the reception conditions at the destination port.
Finally, the maritime prefecture reminds us that it is essential to have a communication device with a charged battery to contact the CROSS Med if necessary (on 196 from any telephone or channel 16 via VHF).
