RIF exam preparation for foreign captains

Foreign captains preparing to take the probationary test to work as captain on a ship flying the French flag.

The written test consists of writing a sea report in French. The assessment of the quality of this type of work is partly based on the candidates’ ability to write a text in French. For this reason, candidates for the course should already have a good command of the French language, both written and spoken.

To prepare foreign captains for the test of their level of knowledge of the French language and legal matters prior to carrying out their duties on ships flying the French flag.

16 hours of training

6 trainees maximum to enable individual follow-up of trainees

ENSM Marseille site – 39 avenue du Corail – 13008 Marseille

ENSM teachers

Yes, written test

Yes, ENSM certificate

5 750€ for a group of 6 trainees maximum.

Training programme for foreign captains of French ships :

DAY 1 :

08h30-10h00 :

• Presentation of the French legal system
• The different courts
• The maritime and commercial court
• Differences between Anglo-Saxon and Latin law

10h00-12h30 :

• France’s maritime policy
• State action at sea
• The French flag
• Maritime affairs
• Representation of the maritime administration abroad

13h30-16h00 :

• Laws, French regulations and the status of captain
• Reminder of international texts (IMO, EEC, other international laws, etc.)
• French laws and the Transport Code: representative of the police, civil status, Regulation 87 on ship safety, Maritime Labour Code (principle of application of collective agreements), laws against pollution, etc.

16h00-17h30 :

• Certificates and documents required by the authorities on board ships registered under the French flag
• Safety documents issued to French ships

DAY 2 :

08h30-10h00 :

• The status of French seafarers
• Employment contract, social security cover
• Documents: passports, certificates, medical fitness, etc.

10h00-12h30 :

• Keeping the logbook up to date, the sea report and its method
• The logbook and the principle of writing a sea report, using collision as an example
• Exercise (example of a collision)

13h30-14h30 :

• Correction of the first sea report

14h30-17h30 :

• Presentation of sea events
• General average, Fire, Assistance
• Grounding, Bad weather, Illness/injury, Safety-related events