Division 240: the rental operator’s obligations

The annual special inspection and its register

Information article, based on the official texts consulted on 26 September 2026. It replaces neither legal advice nor the opinion of the competent State services for your case.

• When: before any boat is put into service, then every year, for every boat rented out (art. 240-3.01).
• Who: under the responsibility of the owner or the operator; the register is filled in and initialled by the person in charge of maintenance. No external body is required, but you may be asked for the invoices or certificates from the professionals involved.
• What: safety equipment and its expiry dates, hull and compliance of the registration, steering, propulsion, anchoring, lights, bilge pumping, gas and electrics (annex 240-A.2).
• Where: a copy of the latest report is annexed to the rental contract, and kept on board boats with accommodation; the register is shown to the customer at the latest at boarding, and to inspectors on request.

The Ministry publishes a model register (2020 edition, predating the 2026 version).

The renter’s prior declaration

Before the rental, the renter fills in and signs the declaration in annex 240-A.6: boating licence (type, number, nationality), boat, dates, and up to five additional drivers. The rental company countersigns it and checks that the information is accurate; it may add its commercial terms in a separate section. Each party keeps a copy; the renter’s copy is shown at any inspection. No one else drives unless they are listed (art. 240-3.02).

Notices at the agency

A visible and legible diagram of local conditions: beach buoyage, channel, prohibited areas, speed. For motor boats that require a licence and for jet skis, the words “permis bateau obligatoire” (boating licence required) in French and in at least two other languages (art. 240-3.02, II).

Beyond 2 nautical miles: additional equipment

For a motor boat of more than 4.5 kW or a sailing boat of more than 250 kg rented to sail more than 2 nautical miles from a shelter: an electronic positioning device, a document on bilge pumping, firefighting and abandoning ship, and a VHF radio (art. 240-3.03).

Beach craft and jet skis

In the Mediterranean, jet skis travel at 5 knots within the 300 m coastal strip, through the channels or perpendicular to the shore (arrêté 109/2024). A licence is required above 4.5 kW (decree 2007-1167).

In SunSea Hub

The prior declaration, the contract and the check-in inspection are signed at the dock; the licence is read automatically; equipment, its periodic checks and its due dates are tracked boat by boat, with an alert before each check. See the Fix workshop.

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