French customs are on the hunt

[jastic]

We launched in the last week of March (2021) from our French base for a shake down cruise. A day later, whilst sitting at anchor, we were visited by a Douane cutter.
In excellent English (the AIS was on so they knew we were British flagged) they inquired which port we had come from and then exactly how long we had been based in the port. We told them two winters and sensing where the conversation was going, informed them that we had declared our entry into France and subsequently had been issued with a "Passeport du Navire Etranger". There was a pause whilst they checked their records followed by a very polite expression of thanks and with that they were off, no doubt scanning the AIS for suitable "targets".

 

[LadyInBed]

Passeport du Navire Etranger

See
Vous naviguez sous pavillon étranger : le droit de passeport.

You are sailing under a foreign flag: the passport fee

Natural or legal persons who have their main residence or their registered office in France and who own a pleasure craft or a nautical motor vehicle (VNM) flying a foreign flag are subject to passport duty.

Companies owning a pleasure or sport vessel or a VNM which are the subject of a rental contract with option to purchase or leasing concluded with a natural person not having their main residence in France, or a legal person not having an establishment in France.

Is this for Brits who live in France with a UK flagged boat?

 

[jastic]

Correct as per the translation, to issue one to an individual they verify that vat has been paid in the EU, preferably France....

 

[Clancy Moped]

Vous naviguez sous pavillon étranger : le droit de passeport

Natural or legal persons who have their main residence or their registered office in France and who own a pleasure craft or a nautical motor vehicle (VNM) flying a foreign flag are subject to passport duty.
Companies that own a pleasure or sport vessel or a VNM which are the subject of a rental contract with option to purchase or leasing concluded with a natural person not having his main residence in France, or a legal person not having an establishment in France.
PROCEDURES

• You wish to continue sailing under a foreign flag

Legal or regulatory bases

• Articles 237 to 240 of the Customs Code.

Customs Service Info
We provide you with information on customs formalities for individuals and professionals.

Call our customs advisers
0 800 94 40 40
Free service & call
Calls from overseas or abroad: +33 1 72 40 78 50.

We call you back whenever you want

We will respond in writing within 5 working days.

 

[Adios]

All that pent up Anglophobia they were forced to keep in check by EU membership must be coming to the fore now

 

[Frogmogman]

All that pent up Anglophobia they were forced to keep in check by EU membership must be coming to the fore now

Oh please.

I know from the attached clip that you're making a joke, but honestly, can we drop the Anglophobia nonsense. The OP made it clear that the officers were polite and business-like; doing a job that now needs to be done.

 

[dom]

.......The OP made it clear that the officers were polite and business-like; doing a job that now needs to be done.

Does it, right now, as a priority, really?
?

 

[Adios]

Does it, right now, as a priority, really?
?

They want to get some revenge for "la variante anglaise"

 

[awol]

They want to get some revenge for "la variante anglaise"

 

[Adios]

So they call us Pommies as well do they. Pommy tarts! Outrageous

 

[Poignard]

I thought they called us "rosbifs".

 

[Metabarca]

All that pent up Anglophobia they were forced to keep in check by EU membership must be coming to the fore now

That's a bit rich given the average British opinion of the French and the vomit that's regularly produced (in these fora, inter alia).

 

[awol]

That's a bit rich given the average British opinion of the French and the vomit that's regularly produced (in these fora, inter alia).

I appreciate it is difficult to differentiate between British and English but when it comes to Francophobia it is almost exclusively an English trait. Even into the 20th century Scots and French had mutual citizenship via the Auld Alliance.

 

[Dan Tribe]

I thought they called us "rosbifs".

I asked my daughter's French friends if they still called us "les rosbifs"
After an embarassed paused they replied
"No the British are known as "les F***offs", because that is the phrase most commonly heard."
A sad indictment of British tourists.

 

[doug748]

Stealing our Mr Kipling apple pies now. Is nothing sacred?

?


.

 

[dom]

I appreciate it is difficult to differentiate between British and English but when it comes to Francophobia it is almost exclusively an English trait. Even into the 20th century Scots and French had mutual citizenship via the Auld Alliance.

For Goodness Sake!

The English, the Scots, the French, the Irish, the Indians, Jamaicans, Americans..........

99% of such interactions are just friendly banter. There is of course the 1% who take it seriously.

They are mostly idiots ....on all sides.

 

[Adios]

For Goodness Sake!

The English, the Scots, the French, the Irish, the Indians, Jamaicans, Americans..........

99% of such interactions are just friendly banter. There is of course the 1% who take it seriously.

They are mostly idiots ....on all sides.

But we were told EU membership was the only thing stopping us all having a war so you never know things might kick off soon...

 

[Frogmogman]

But we were told EU membership was the only thing stopping us all having a war so you never know things might kick off soon...

Here we go.

That's exactly why I suggested you should rein it in. Your comment is the trigger for turning this thread, which started with a useful heads-up from the OP into yet another slanging match about Brexit. Yawn.

 

[dom]

That's exactly why I suggested you should rein it in. Your comment is the trigger for turning this thread, which started with a useful heads-up from the OP into yet another slanging match about Brexit. Yawn.

Never understand why people involve themselves in a pointless dispute while blaming the other side for starting it.

If it doesn't interest you, walk away.

Simples !

 

[Sandy]

They are just doing their job. I hope Border Force do the same, but suspect their French will not be as good.

My wife is fluent in French and we have never had any problems with officialdom and I just say I'm Scottish, opens all sorts of doors.