Navigating on the Seine is not reserved for commercial or slow-moving riverboats. It is possible to practice motorized boating in Ile de France, provided you have a river permit and respect certain rules. The regulations for inland waterways are not the same as for the sea.
Speed zones
On the Seine, speed is generally limited to 20 km/h. However, there are certain areas where you can go fast in the Ile de France, whether you want to water ski, jet ski, or simply go for a speed run. The maximum speed in these "speed zones" is 60 km/h (about 32 knots). However, speed boating or water skiing is prohibited from April 15 to June 15, the fish spawning period.
Different days and times
Depending on where you are navigating, the days and times for speeding may differ. Be careful to check the notices to skippers available on the VNF (Voies Navigables de France) website. In a more general way, these zones are also subject to regular changes.
More than 20 speed zones in Île-de-France
There are no less than 25 speed zones distributed among the different departments:
- Paris
- Hauts-de-Seine
- Val-d'Oise
- Essonne
- Yvelines
- Val-de-Marne
- Seine-Maritime
Each zone is located between two markings called KP or kilometre points. For example, in Essonne it is possible to navigate at 60 km/h in the evry reach, downstream of Corbeil-Essonnes (from KP 135 650 to KP 136euros500) from 12 noon to 2 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to sunset
euros Paris from the A13 freeway bridge (KP 14,200) to KP 16,440 (just before the Suresnes bridge), the practice of motorized water sports, with the exception of motorized watercraft, is authorized from 10 a.m. to sunset (without exceeding 9 p.m.).
Speed zones in full
- The Seine
- In Seine-et-Marne in the basins of :
- Port-Montain
- Varennes
- Fontaine-au-Port
- Chartrettes
- Rochette
- Dammarie-les-Lys
- Ponthierry
- Nandy
- In Essonne in the reaches of :
- Evry
- Ablon
- In the Val de Marne on the water bodies of :
- Bonneuil-sur-Marne
- Villeneuve-Saint-Georges
- Charenton
- In Paris and the Hauts-de-Seine at the level of the bridges of :
- the A13 freeway
- Suresnes
- Saint-Cloud
- In the Val d'Oise at the level of the bridge of :
- Bezons
- In the Yvelines at the level of :
- main and secondary arms of Garenne
- Harvest
- White Island
- Medan
- kilometre point 116,500 to 118,000
- In Seine-et-Marne in the basins of :
- The Oise
- In the Val d'Oise at the level of :
- cergy bridge
- butry-sur-Oise water treatment plant
- In the Val d'Oise at the level of :
- The Marne
- In the Marne on the water of :
- Vandières
- In the Aisne on the water bodies of :
- Dormans
- Mont-Saint-Père
- Azy
- In Seine-et-Marne on the water bodies of :
- Saint-Jean-les-deux-jumeaux
- Chalifert
- In Seine-Saint-Denis on the water of :
- Maltournée
- In the Marne on the water of :
