• The maritime prefecture of the Mediterranean has taken new measures concerning the mooring of ships.

  • The text is aimed in particular at "fairground anchorages" and wrecks.

  • Thus, mooring authorizations are granted for a maximum period of 24 hours for certain vessels.

For the sake of maritime safety but also to preserve the environment, the maritime prefecture of the Mediterranean (Premar) issued a new decree on June 17 to further regulate the anchoring of ships, this practice which consists of the immobilization of the boat at sea. with an anchor.

The text is aimed in particular at “fairground” moorings, outside a port, in a sheltered bay, often “unsupervised”.

Thus, mooring authorizations are granted for "an initial duration of 24 hours maximum, renewable without the total duration exceeding 72 hours".

This concerns “yachts or large pleasure craft of 80m or more and all other types of vessels with a gross tonnage greater than or equal to 300 UMS or an overall length greater than or equal to 45m”.

Anchorage, a “temporary situation for a ship in navigation”

The other boats, "less than 80 m in overall length and merchant ships of less than 45 m overall", can anchor for 72 hours, depending on the weather.

In this way, the authority wants to fight against the wrecks, which they estimate to number 120 today.

For her, they are a direct consequence of "poorly or unsupervised anchorage situations and degrade the Mediterranean coast".

Premar recalls that, “by definition, mooring is a temporary situation for a ship in navigation.

In such a case, in accordance with international regulations to prevent collisions at sea, a permanent watch remains obligatory in order to ensure the safety of his vessel as well as that of other users of the body of water”.

To preserve the environment

In addition to the risk of maritime congestion and collisions, especially in summer, these moorings have consequences on the environment, such as with ships that run aground on the coast with episodes of bad weather and broken moorings.

But also with the shifting over time of the anchors on the bottom which degrades marine plant species, some of which are protected such as Posidonia seagrass beds.

These species produce oxygen essential for aquatic life.

The rhizomes of these grass beds only grow a few centimeters a year, whereas a single anchor can pull out tens of meters in a few seconds.

Already in October 2020, Premar had banned yachts over 20 or 24 m from anchoring in several seaside areas of the Côte d'Azur to preserve the Posidonia seagrass beds.

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