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Subject: French Prior Lead Time Requirement
Released by the Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International
Environmental and Scientific Affairs, June 13, 1994.
Many recent U.S. research vessel clearance requests submitted without the requisite 4 months prior notice, have prompted the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to remind our Embassy of French research vessel clearance policies, particularly the prior notice requirement. The following information is provided to aid U.S. organizations in avoiding potential problems.
The MFA stated that a full package of information is required before beginning their internal clearance process. Thus, for every request we must provide all appropriate documents, including a cruise prospectus, ship's track chart and description of research. For requests involving research within French territorial waters, the MFA requires additional detailed information regarding the nature and objectives of the research, operational details of the investigation and scientific equipment to be used, a description of samples to be taken, a detailed description of the vessel's expected movements in the French territorial sea, as well as other relevant information.
The MFA requires all vessel clearance requests (complete with applicable information as listed above) four months in advance. Recent problems with untimely requests have prompted the MFA to accept only those requests with proper notice, with the possible exception of requests submitted with valid reason for lateness. This means that all requests must be submitted to the Department of State at least five months prior to proposed research, and in compliance with the "UNOLS Handbook for International Operations of U.S. Scientific Research Vessels".
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