France: Sanitary Measures for Ports & Vessels

Further to publication of Decree No. 2020-0160 ‘Covid-19 Sanitary Measures for Ports and Yachts’ by the Prefecture of the Alpes Maritimes on 27 February, ECPY would like to clarify a number of queries raised by the yachting community. 

*The public health code and in particular Article 3115-25 obliges captains coming from a foreign port to submit a Maritime Declaration of Health 24 hours in advance of entry into a French port.

*All yachts on an international voyage which dock in a French port must, in accordance with Article 39, be able to present a certificate of health inspection, or exemption from health inspection. Download the Ship Health Inspection Form.

*In case of suspicion of Covid-19, the passenger(s) would be taken care of by a medical team and transferred to the IHU in Marseille or the CHU in Nice for sampling. While waiting for the results the boat would not be allowed to move.

*If the case is confirmed as positive, a search for close contacts would be carried out on board and, above all, a quarantine would be managed in conjunction with the Prefecture. 

*For all vessels, wearing a mask is recommended as well as good practice, and the ‘Coronavirus Information’ poster should be affixed in a prominent position. 
Download here: Covid-19 Information Poster.