Maritime prefect
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A maritime prefect (French: Préfet maritime) is a servant of the French State who exercises authority over the sea in a particular region under French jurisdiction, known as a maritime arrondissement (Arrondissement maritime). His administration is known as a maritime prefecture (Préfecture maritime).
As of 2022, there are three maritime prefects in metropolitan France, based in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (Channel and North Sea), Brest (Atlantic Ocean) and Toulon (Mediterranean Sea). Two additional maritime prefects were based in Rochefort until 1927 and Lorient until 1941. As a senior civil servant, the officeholder is appointed by and reports to the Prime Minister. The maritime prefect, who is simultaneously charged of military operations, therefore also reports to the Chief of the Defence Staff (Chef d'état-major des armées).
History[]
The dignity was created on 27 April 1800 under the French Consulate to unify the command of harbours (civil administrator) and the command of the Navy (admiral).
Maritime prefectures exist in each of the five overseas departments of France, but are administered by the departments' respective prefects: Cayenne for French Guiana, Basse-Terre for Guadeloupe, Fort-de-France for Martinique, Saint-Denis for Réunion and Mamoudzou for Mayotte.
Duties and responsibilities[]
The maritime prefect is in charge of the French sovereignty at sea, which includes defending rights guaranteed under French law and national interests within territorial waters and exclusive economic zones, as well as monitoring operations, fighting illegal activities, police and rescue operations, environment protection and users safety. The officeholder coordinates all armed vessels within the jurisdiction.
List of maritime prefects[]
As of 2019, the three maritime prefects in metropolitan France are:[1]
- Channel and North Sea (Cherbourg-en-Cotentin): Vice-amiral Philippe Dutrieux, following the 1924 unification of the commanding position at Dunkirk and prefecture at Cherbourg (COMNORD)[2]
- Atlantic Ocean (Château de Brest, Brest): Vice-amiral d'escadre Jean-Louis Lozier, ex-officio holds the title of Commander for the Atlantic (Commandant en chef pour l'Atlantique, CECLANT)[3]
- Mediterranean Sea (Toulon): Vice-amiral d'escadre Charles-Henri du Ché, ex-officio holds the title of Commander for the Mediterranean (Commandant en chef pour la Méditerranée, CECMED)[4]
From left to right: Capitaine de Vaisseau Xavier Magne (captain of the Charles De Gaulle), vice-amiral d'escadre Alain Dumontet, commander of the Force d'Action Navale, and contre-amiral Édouard Guillaud, Préfet maritime of the English Channel and North Sea (former captain of the Charles De Gaulle 1999–2001).
Admiral Yann Tainguy, Maritime prefect for the Mediterranean
See also[]
References[]
- ^ https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/commandement
- ^ "Préfet Maritime Manche Mer du Nord". Archived from the original on 2019-05-11.
- ^ "Préfet Maritime de l'Atlantique". Archived from the original on 2019-05-11.
- ^ "Préfet Maritime de la Méditerranée". Archived from the original on 2019-05-11.
- French civil servants
- French Navy
- Admirals of France