France
General Information for France
Geo-political:
Capital City: Paris. 48° 52.00′ N, 002° 20.00′ E
Nationality: (noun) Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women), (adjective) French.
Population: 67,848,156 (July 2020).
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 33.
Number of Internal Airports: 464 (2013).
Major Languages Spoken: French 100% (official) and declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton,
Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish, Occitan, Picard).
Economy:
Currency: 1 Euro (EUR) of 100 Cents.
Exchange Rates:
(as of November 2020)
USD 1.00 = EUR 0.86
EUR 1.00 = USD 1.16
Exchange rates under licence from
XE.com
Main Industries: Machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, textiles, food
processing and tourism.
Agricultural Products: Wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes, beef, dairy products and fish.
Imports: Machinery, equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics and chemicals.
Exports: Machinery, transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical
products, iron, steel and beverages.
Commodities: Crude: Production 16,000 bbl/d. Imports 1,147,000 bbl/d. Reserves 65,970,000 bbl.
Products: Production 1,311,000 bbl/d. Exports 440,600 bbl/d. Imports 886,800 bbl/d.
LNG: Production 16,990,000 cu.m.. Exports 6,031,000,000 cu.m.. Imports 48,590,000,000 cu.m..
Reserves 8,410,000,000 cu.m..
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.
Contiguous Zone: Contiguous Zone: 24 n.m. Continental Shelf: 200 m. Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 n.m.
Climate: Generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the
Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as
the mistral;.
Natural Resources: Coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar,
gypsum, timber, arable land, fish, French Guiana, gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin,
niobium, tantalum and clay.
Natural Hazards: Flooding, avalanches, midwinter windstorms, drought and forest fires in south near
the Mediterranean.
Terrain: Mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous,
especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east;.
Average Temperatures:
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 7° C | 1° C |
| June | 24° C | 12° C |
| September | 22° C | 12° C |
CHARTS:
Nautical charts and publications produced by Service Hydrographique et Oceanographique
de la Marine (SHOM).
Notices to Mariners and Navigational Warnings available online at
www.shom.fr/en/onlines-services/
APPROACHES:
North-Western Mediterranean Sea PSSA:
The IMO has designated the North-Western Mediterranean Sea as a Particularly Sensitive
Sea Area (NW Med PSSA) to reduce collisions between ships and endangered whales.
The NW Mediterranean PSSA encompasses critical whale habitats, including the Mediterranean
Cetacean Migration Corridor, the Pelagos Cetacean Sanctuary, and the Important Marine
Mammal Areas (IMMAs) known as the ``Gulf of Lions Shelf'' and the ``Slopes and Canyons
System of the North-West Mediterranean Sea''. In addition to sperm whales and fin
whales, the region is home to several other cetacean species including Cuvier’s beaked
dolphins, pilot whales, Risso’s dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphins, and
common dolphins.
The NW Med PSSA is located between the coastline of France, Italy, Monaco and Spain
and is defined by a line encompassing the following coordinates:
- 38° 39' 59.379" N, 000° 06' 00.000" E
- 38° 39' 59.379" N, 000° 47' 59.476" E
- 38° 50' 03.331" N, 001° 00' 00.398" E
- 39° 19' 01.812" N, 001° 00' 25.212" E
- 39° 28' 42.075" N, 001° 40' 02.495" E
- 39° 51' 21.986" N, 002° 16' 09.853" E
- 40° 34' 13.067" N, 004° 04' 31.926" E
- 40° 58' 00.000" N, 008° 12' 00.000" E
- 41° 09' 10.800" N, 009° 31' 10.800" E
- 42° 21' 14.400" N, 011° 31' 00.000" E.
From point h) (Falcoe Cape) to point i) (Ferro Cape) the south boundary follows the
coastline of Sardinia. Coordinates are provided by the WGS84 datum.
Mariners should follow the following protective measures:
- Mariners of any commercial vessels and pleasure yachts of 300 g.t. or more should navigate with particular caution within the NW Mediterranean PSSA, in areas where large and medium cetaceans are detected or reported and reduce their speed to between 10 and 13 knots as voluntary speed reduction (VSR); however, a safe speed should be kept, so that proper and effective action could be taken to avoid collision and any possible negative impacts on ship’s manoeuvrability.
- Mariners should broadcast on VHF or other available means on scene, the position of medium and large cetaceans observed or detected within the designated PSSA and transmit the information and the position to a designated coastal authority.
- Mariners should report any collision with cetaceans to a designated coastal authority, which should forward this information to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) global cetacean ship strikes database.
Contact:
International Whaling Commission.
iwc.int/management-and-conservation/ship-strikes
DEEP SEA PILOTAGE:
See
Cherbourg and
Brixham.
Visas:
Foreign visitors (except EEC nationals and Swiss nationals) are required to be in
possession of visas before arrival in France.
Companies sending foreign crewmen to join vessels in French ports should arrange visas
through French Consulates.
PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION:
Pre-arrival documentation and notifications should be submitted electronically, where
available, via the online portal in use at the port. Access is available to registered
users.
River Information System:
All European inland navigation countries are working on the development of an integrated
shipping guidance and monitoring system. The main objective of the RIS is to improve
safety, efficiency and environmental friendliness of inland navigation by means of
harmonised, interoperable and freely accessible aids and information systems for the
interior waterways.
Inland ECDIS:
Making available reliable and up-to-date electronic charts which meet European standards.
ECDIS contributes to the safety and efficiency of inland navigation and therefore
the protection of the environment. Moreover it reduces the work load of the skipper
compared to traditional navigation and information methods.
Electronic Ships Reports:
Vessel traffic services in Europe are linked to information gathering via various
systems. To relieve the fairway-user as much as possible, a system of an electronic
once-only report is being worked on. The skipper can then use one type of report that
is valid for the whole of Europe.
Notices to Skippers:
To enable an automatic translation of the most important contents of messages in all
languages of the participating countries, with a harmonised structure of data to enable
integration of messages in the voyage planning systems. Also a standard for height
of tide information will be made available. This information will be made available
to the inland barge community, among other things by use of web applications.
Tracking/Tracing:
Tracking and tracing will form the basis for both Vessel Traffic Services and future
RIS-services.
Details of national systems can be found at the following websites:
| Country | Website | |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | nts.doris.bmvit.gv.at | |
| Belgium | nts.flaris.be | |
| voies-hydrauliques.wallonie.be | ||
| www.vts-scheldt.net | ||
| Bulgaria | www.bulris.bg | |
| Croatia | vodniputovi.hr | |
| Czech Republic | www.lavdis.cz | |
| France | www.vnf.fr | |
| Germany | www.elwis.de | |
| Hungary | www.pannonris.hu | |
| Netherlands | www.vaarweginformatie.nl | |
| Poland | www.rzgw.szczecin.pl | |
| Romania | www.roris.ro | |
| Serbia | nts.risserbia.rs | |
| Slovakia | nts.slovris.sk | |
| Switzerland | www.port-of-switzerland.ch | |
| www.elwis.de |
Also see
Duisburg-Ruhrort.
POLLUTION:
Spill notification should be made to the nearest CROSS.
Also see
Emergency Response Centre.
WASTE DISPOSAL:
The MARPOL Convention rules apply to all reception facilities. Further information
on reception facilities should be requested if required from the relevant port authorities.
Should any deficiencies/inadequacies be observed in the system they should be reported
to Direction des Ports et de la Navigation Maritimes, 3 Place de Fontenoy, 75700 Paris.
All tankers must send a Waste Declaration for both solid and liquid wastes to the
relevant port authority. Charges depend on the quantity and quality of substances
to be delivered.
SLOPS DISPOSAL:
See
Waste Disposal.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTRE:
System de Comptes Rendus de Mouvements (SURNAV):
The SURNAV regulations are mandatory for all accidents at sea that occur within 50 n.m.
of the French coast to which the following apply:
- All vessels carrying dangerous goods as defined in the IMDG Code, Chapter 17 of the International Bulk Carriers Code, and Chapter 19 of the International Gas Carriers Code.
- All vessels carrying polluting goods, noxious liquid substances and harmful substances as defined in MARPOL Annex I, II and III.
Masters, Owners and Charterers should refer to the Admiralty List of Radio Signals,
Volume 6, for full details, contact information and report formats.
Centre Regionaux Operationnels de Surveillance Et de Sauvetage (CROSS):
All vessels of LOA 25 m. or more and smaller craft in attendance with these vessels
must seek permission from the nearest CROSS station before navigating or anchoring
in French territorial waters. This does not apply in an emergency, but the vessel's
circumstances must be reported to the nearest CROSS station as soon as practicable.
CROSS provides permanent, full time, all weather surveillance of marine traffic off
the French coast, and co-operates with foreign MRCCs and MRSCs.
CROSS has 6 regional surveillance and rescue co-ordination centres: Gris-Nez, Corsen,
La Garde, Joburg, Etel and MRSC Aspretto.
Co-Ordination:
Each CROSS centre co-ordinates the following:
- Surveillance of marine traffic, especially within the 12 n.m. limit.
- Maritime SAR.
- Fishery surveillance out to 200 n.m.
- Monitoring the tracks of vessels carrying dangerous or noxious cargoes.
- Collation and storage of all relevant data for future use and/or onward transmission to other organisations.
The purpose of marine traffic surveillance is to enhance navigational safety and includes
the policing of IMO approved Traffic Separation Schemes.
Information Broadcasts:
CROSS broadcasts information bulletins that include navigational and traffic information
of interest to mariners and reports on the movement of vessels that appear to contravene
Rule 10 of the (International) Prevention of Collision Regulations.
Masters, Owners and Charterers should refer to Admiralty List of Radio Signals, Volume 6
for full details and contact information.
Contact:
CROSS Gris-Nez (Manche Est - Pas-de-Calais). T: +33 3 2187 2187. (operations). F: +33 32187 7855.
CROSS Corsen (Manche Ouest). T: +33 29889 3131. (operations). F: +33 29889 6575.
CROSS La Garde (Mediterranee). T: +33 49461 1616. (operations). F: +33 49427 1149.
CROSS Jobourg (Manche Centrale). T: +33 23352 7213. (operations). F: +33 23352 7172.
CROSS Etel (Atlantique). T: +33 29755 3535. (operations). F: +33 29755 4934.
MRSC Aspretto (Mediterranee). T: +33 49520 1363. (operations). F: +33 49522 5191.
REGULATIONS:
EU MRV:
The EU MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) regulation entered into force on
1 July 2015, and it requires ship owners and operators to annually monitor, report
and verify CO
2 emissions for vessels larger than 5,000 g.t. calling at any EU and EFTA (Norway and
Iceland) port. Data collection takes place on a per voyage basis and started 1 January
2018.
The reported CO
2 emissions, together with additional data, are to be verified by independent certified
bodies and sent to a central database managed by the European Maritime Safety Agency
(EMSA). The aggregated ship emission and efficiency data will be published by the
EC by 30 June 2019 and then every consecutive year.
Ship owners and operators shall monitor the CO
2 emissions of their vessels per voyage conducted into, between and out of EU (and
EFTA) ports. A voyage is defined as any movement of a ship that originates from, or
terminates in, a port of call (EU port) and that serves the purpose of transporting
passengers or cargo for commercial purposes.
TIME:
GMT plus 1 hour in winter. GMT plus 2 hours in summer.
HOLIDAYS:
1 January (New Year's Day); Good Friday; Easter Monday; 1 May (Labour Day); 8 May
(V-E Day); Ascension Day; Whit Monday; 14 July (Bastille Day); 15 August (Assumption
Day); 1 November (All Saints' Day); 11 November (Armistice Day); 25 December (Christmas
Day); 26 December (St Stephen's Day).
