Certification for Hotel Boats
Certification for Hotel Boats
Saturday, 5 November 2016
For a vessel taking maximum 12 guests the requirements are far less stringent. In France it is sufficient to hold the French licence for large pleasure craft - the Extension Grande Plaisance - and the same person can also hold the Attestation Spéciale Passagers which deals with passenger safety. A separate safety officer is then no longer necessary.
The validity of this small craft certificate can then be extended to include larger vessels ≥20m
The applicant must now do a further minimum 4 hours study of boat management - safety procedures, engine basics, elementary fire fighting etc - and a minimum 5 hours demonstrating practical knowledge of basic manœuvres and operational control of boat and crew on an appropriate vessel, entered into a Livret d’apprentissage (service record book) by the principal of the boat school. Eligibility for the permis “Permis Grande Plaisance Eaux Intérieures” will then be added to the Permis de Conduire.
The ASP must be gained at a school specifically authorised for this qualification and involves a 15 hour course over two days on an appropriate vessel. See this link for a school in Paris:
www.apuissance2.fr/spip.php?rubrique11
At the larger end of the scale: 110m x 11.4m Cruise Ship “Swiss Corona”
seen here on the Saône at Tournus has a crew of 36 and takes 154 passengers