The French CERFA Cabotage Declaration Form for Yachts

The CERFA Cabotage Declaration Form is an official form to be completed by the Captains of all foreign flagged commercial yachts under 650 GT and submitted with various supporting documentation to the authorities 72 hours prior to the start of any single voyage commencing in French waters.

A copy of the form numbered CERFA No 15223*01 can be downloaded from our website here:

CERFA Déclaration préalable d’activité de cabotage maritime national et de prestation de service dans les eaux territoriales et intérieures françaises

The form also requires further supporting documentation to be held onboard in the event of inspection.

All supporting documentation that is not in French must be translated.

The CERFA form is accompanied by a set of guidance notes that can also be downloaded from our website here:

CERFA Notice relative a la déclaration préalable d’activité de cabotage maritime national et de prestation de service dans les eaux territoriales et intérieures françaises

A meeting was held in Nice on the 20th January to enable various representatives of the yachting community to protest strongly against the introduction of the new form to the Director of Maritime Affairs for the Alpes Maritimes region on the basis that the form as proposed will unnecessarily complicate the operation of commercial yachts in French waters.

As a result of the meeting clarification on various issues concerning the form and the implementation of a system to administer the submission and processing of completed forms is being sought from the tax and marine authorities in Paris.

In the meantime the requirement to complete the new form has been suspended and we shall provide further updates on the situation when more information is known.

Updated 10/02/16

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