At the Port des Minimes, in La Rochelle - which is by the way the largest port in Europe - there are between 160 and 170 boats (on 5000 berths) living on the pontoons all year round. "It's like a small village, there are families, couples, single people... We know some of them well and we try to pamper them." explains Philippe Rouger in charge of communication at the Port des Minimes in La Rochelle.
The same goes for the port of Bormes-les-Mimosas, which has 1?000 rings and only 2 full-time residents . "We take care of them, we make sure everything goes well, especially since they're old people", says Mr. Gastaud, harbourmaster.
However, do not forget to notify the harbour master's office of your installation year-round, as detailed by the communication officer at the Port des Minimes. "Boaters are free to live aboard their boats. However, we have to be aware of it, to be able to predict big gales or storms. In the case of Xynthia, for example, residents were warned to evacuate. We need to know them so we can help them or warn them to get off the boat and get to safety."
Finding the berth
Before you can live in the harbour in your boat, you first have to find the right boat, but above all you have to find the right place for port?! And to do this, there are two options available to boaters, as Philippe Rouger explains.
"The ports offer places for purchase or annual rentals, it is the latter that we present in La Rochelle." In Bormes-les-Mimosas, one of the residents is on an annual lease and the other is a slightly different case. "The other is a boatman, he bought shares in our company which gives him the use of a berth", explains the harbor master, Mr. Gastaud.
For an annual rental contract, you will need to count about 3?000 euros/year including water, electricity and Wi-Fi in La Rochelle for a boat of about 9.50 m. Without a contract, therefore considered as visitors, the rate increases by 60%.
In Bormes-les-Mimosas, for a boat of the same size, the price of a place is 5?400 euros, water and electricity included.
Although the Port des Minimes tends to group together resident boaters, they are not assigned a specific place. "People express their wishes on a particular pontoon or dock. Some want to be close to the harbour office or the sanitary facilities, others have mobility problems..." explains Philippe Rouger.
Compulsory Pleasure Craft Insurance
When you live on board your boat, the legal obligations are the same as for all boaters. The boat must be insured for at least civil liability. "It is requested that the boat be insured for all activities that will take place on board. After each resident yachtsman and insurance company to take appropriate guarantees taking into account the different risks, especially electrical risks" explains the communication officer of the port of La Rochelle.
"They must provide us with a certificate of insurance and liability insurance including the bailout. Finally, it's similar to those who come to stay overnight, but there are still more risks than those who stay year-round." adds Mr. Gastaud.
Comply with port regulations
Whether in La Rochelle or in Bormes-les-Mimosas, resident boaters must respect the regulations of the port. "When they are domiciled on board, they must follow the rules of courtesy and port usage: sorting waste, not cluttering up the pontoons with bicycles, leaving the units free passage, respecting the peace and quiet of others on board. You must follow maritime etiquette, so as not to disturb everyone" details Philippe Rouger. In Bormes-les-Mimosas, for example, barbecues on the pontoons are forbidden, even when you live there.
What about the insurance habitation??
Contrary to the residence on land, the residence at the port is not subject to a habitation tax. Indeed, owners do not pay local tax for living year-round in a commune, but some discussions are under way on the introduction of a tourist tax, in the same way as the fee that can be paid when one spends one or more nights in a hotel or residence.
The special case of electricity
Electrical failure can happen quickly on board, especially when electricity is used a lot. Thus, ports have put in place certain obligations.
"They are required not to let the boat be plugged into a socket for more than 24 hours at a time. There is a timer that requires the power on board to be reset every 24 hours to prevent the risk of an accident, which is essentially related to a fire on a vessel due to an engine or electrical failure"
A preventive obligation also requested by the harbour master of Bormes. "When they're not here, they must not leave their boat plugged into the harbour socket."
The special case of wastewater
Both in La Rochelle and in Bormes-les-Mimosas, it is possible to use the onboard sanitary facilities, although some people prefer to use the port sanitary facilities for more comfort. "Most boats have at least toilets and now very often showers. Boaters have containers on board to store waste water and will empty it on a service pontoon with a fixed pump, in the same way as one empties one's garbage." details Philippe Rouger.
In Bormes-les-Mimosas, politics is a little different.
"They can use their sanitary facilities on their boat, but are not allowed to empty the tanks in the harbour. They have to go either offshore or free of charge, emptying their black or grey water in a special block. But our two residents use the sanitary block in the harbour master's office, because it is close enough. They don't have 500 metres to go. It gives them an incentive to use our facilities."
How can I receive my courrier??
The ports can issue certificates of residence, which must then be forwarded to the Prefecture, which will then issue certificates of habitation. Thus domiciled at the port, the resident yachtsman will be able to receive his mail directly at the harbour master's office, in a mailbox in his name.
