Overseas trips

[Guest]

I am planning a trip to France this summer. I've not been for several years. Is an ICC compulsory in France? What are now considered the essential ship's papers (Bill of sale, VAT receipt etc).

Any input gratefully received. None of the magazines ever seem to provide a list of crucial papers needed.

 

[Guest]

Re: france trips

4yrs ago we went from solent to Cherbourg, and arrived armed with full papers, passports etc to marina office, to be greeted by haha, clear off you don't need that stuff! However...

MBY(?) boatshop wotsirt do a foreign crusing guide for full info.

5 main things for all eventualities in my experience =
1. passports
2 insurance certificate
3 bill of sale
4 ssr or part1registration document
5 "invoice with some itemised VAT on it" is enuf to show "proof" of VAT being paid, since there's no such thing as "proof" becos of course it could be unpaid altho invoiced, or reclaimed.

Nicety is the french courtesy flag, altho most sub-10m fr boats carry no flags at all.

As for ICC you need this to RENT a boat over 6hp in france, AND and for (some) inland waterways, altho best get it anyway if you go inland: if you're halfway down that's that since you can't "clear off" and there have been postings hereabout for locked in boats halfway up a canal (dutch i think) with no ICC skipper. I have not ever been asked for ICC on coastal stuff.

Doaniers (customs people) do patrol on coastal waters and in
marinas and will knock early am and ask to board (first stopping at marina to find out where the non-french boats are) and will turn up in groups of 3, 4 or 5 with jack-boots. If they want to go below you can request that they remove jackboots, but you need all above papers. I'm afraid this all lasts much longer if your skin is coloured. The doaniers can impose fines such as 1000-2000FF for carrying a copy (not an original) of the ships papers, as I found out, bugger, boarded on average once or twice per year.

Oh, and the kids can't drive a boat over 6hp either in france, but 15hp mercury decals can be doctored with stanley knife blade to read 5hp, allegedly.

 

[byron]

In France they rarely ask for anything in the Ports. However make sure you get a Police Document from the Capitan du Port. Fill it in and put it back in the box provided. These are compulsory at each port you visit. They rarely look at these too but when they do they go ape if you haven't filled one out.
You are more likely to be stopped at sea by a patrol boat than when in harbour especially if coming from the direction of Holland. Other than that the earlier respondent gives very sound advice.

©2001

 

[jfm]

Re: kids and 6hp

Matt can you clarify the 6hp thing and kids, in France. What age can they exceed 6hp? Does this mean they can't have a jetski unaccompanied? (Please say YES, please, please)

JFM

 

[Guest]

Re: kids and 6hp

The answer is er er I don't know but will find out exact details. All I do know is that non-ICC limits adult drivers to under 6hp. Or was it 8hp? I don't even know that. Anyway, it's definitely right out to drive under a big catamaran.

 

[Guest]

Re: kids and 6hp

I know the feeling behind the "please please" but I'm afraid the kids may have got you over a barrel on this one. At least when it comes to private rental and private ponds.

All they have to do is find a "Jetski Club" and then it all comes down to "Le Patron".

They may have belonged to "Le Patron" himself but I've seen kids who just stick out of the tops of their wellies riding zillion horsepower jetskis around ponds in France at about Mach 3.5. (Very skilfully I might add.)

Favourite place for the ponds seems to be just at the back of a canal on the outskirts of town. Best advice is therefore:

o - Buy the kids a CD player and earphones each.

o - Point out the lovely Chateau as you approach every town.

o - Hope that the kids dive for the CD player to avoid being contaminated with "kulchur" and thereby don't hear the whine of the engines as you slink past.

Best regards )

Ian D

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

'Police Document'? Whats that, Byron? Been bouncing across the Channel for years and never filled out such a document. If you mean a customs declaration, you only have to do that outside the EC ie Channel Islands these days. The requirement for a customs declaration within the EC was removed a few years back

 

[byron]

AHA! Come the time when the local Gendarmerie are bored and decide to spin the Marina. There is a Police form one is supposed to fill in at each port, even if you pop out of Calais and into Bolougne you are supposed to do a new one.

©2001

 

[Guest]

My goodness. There I was thinking that after a few cross channel jaunts I'd finally figured out what was, and what wasn't, needed.

I'd never heard of the Police Document before. I must re-read all 14 years of my MBY mags to see where I missed it.

Thanks for the info - I'll fill one in next time I'm over.

 

[duncan]

So just to clarify the customs bit - there is nothing needed between UK and France (but is were you to arrive at the channel islands) - so subjet to the aforesaid papers (including Passports)if I out fishing in the channel and decide to go to Cherbourg for the night instead of Poole I can make a spur of the moment decision (obviously ensuring anyone expecting me back is informed).......but must find and fill in a 'police form' when I am there?

 

[hlb]

Heard that you were supposed to have some bits of paper but a police pass ?? Anyway all these bits of paper I was going to get next time, but then yer forgets and then yer on the way back again cos the seas good and you forget about the customs thingy and police pass until about half way, so look behind and put foot down just in case.

Haydn