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A maritime prefect (French: Préfet maritime) is a servant of the French government who exercises authority over the sea in a particular region known as a maritime prefecture (Préfecture maritime). As of 2024, there are three maritime prefects in metropolitan France, based in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (Channel and North Sea), Brest (Atlantic Ocean) and Toulon (Mediterranean Sea).

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). Two additional maritime prefects were based in Rochefort until 1927 and Lorient until 1941.

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 prefect maritime is the representative of the State at sea, government delegate and direct representative of the Prime Minister and each of the ministers. It is vested with "authority in all areas where State action is exercised at sea".^[1]

The maritime prefect has general police powers and oversees the defense of sovereign rights and the interests of the Nation, the maintenance of public order, the safeguarding of persons and property, the protection environment and the coordination of the fight against illicit activities.^[1]

The maritime prefect is a flag officer in the French Navy, who combines this civil function with the military powers of "commander of the maritime zone" (operational control of the forces deployed in the maritime zone) and "commander of the maritime district" (commands naval units not under another command).^[1]

List of maritime prefects

As of 2019, the three maritime prefects in metropolitan France are:^[2]

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)^[3]
Atlantic Ocean (Château de Brest, Brest): Vice-amiral d'escadre Olivier Lebas, ex-officio holds the title of Commander for the Atlantic (Commandant en chef pour l'Atlantique, CECLANT)^[4]
Mediterranean Sea (Toulon): Vice-amiral d'escadre Gilles Boidevezi, ex-officio holds the title of Commander for the Mediterranean (Commandant en chef pour la Méditerranée, CECMED)^[5]

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

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Le Préfet Maritime." Préfet Maritime d'Atlanticue. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
^ "Commandement". Archived from the original on 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
^ "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.

[Atlantic-1] "Le Préfet Maritime." Préfet Maritime d'Atlanticue. Retrieved 2023-02-17.

[2] "Commandement". Archived from the original on 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2019-05-14.

[3] "Préfet Maritime Manche Mer du Nord". Archived from the original on 2019-05-11.

[4] "Préfet Maritime de l'Atlantique". Archived from the original on 2019-05-11.

[5] "Préfet Maritime de la Méditerranée". Archived from the original on 2019-05-11.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{short description|Prefect in charge of a French maritime arrondissement}}
 {{French Navy}}
-A '''maritime prefect''' ([[French language|French]]: ''Préfet maritime'') is a servant of the [[France|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'').
+A '''maritime prefect''' ([[French language|French]]: ''Préfet maritime'') is a servant of the [[French government]] who exercises authority over the sea in a particular region known as a maritime prefecture (''Préfecture maritime''). As of {{CURRENTISOYEAR}}, there are three maritime prefects in [[metropolitan France]], based in [[Cherbourg-en-Cotentin]] ([[English Channel|Channel]] and [[North Sea]]), [[Brest, France|Brest]] ([[Atlantic Ocean]]) and [[Toulon]] ([[Mediterranean Sea]]).
-As of {{CURRENTISOYEAR}}, there are three maritime prefects in [[metropolitan France]], based in [[Cherbourg-en-Cotentin]] ([[English Channel|Channel]] and [[North Sea]]), [[Brest, France|Brest]] ([[Atlantic Ocean]]) and [[Toulon]] ([[Mediterranean Sea]]). Two additional maritime prefects were based in [[Rochefort, Charente-Maritime|Rochefort]] until 1927 and [[Lorient]] until 1941. As a senior [[French Civil Service|civil servant]], the officeholder is appointed by and reports to the [[Prime Minister of France|Prime Minister]]. The maritime prefect, who is simultaneously charged of military operations, therefore also reports to the [[Chief of the Defence Staff (France)|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).
+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). Two additional maritime prefects were based in [[Rochefort, Charente-Maritime|Rochefort]] until 1927 and [[Lorient]] until 1941.
 Maritime prefectures exist in each of the [[Overseas departments and regions of France|five overseas departments of France]], but are administered by the departments' respective [[Prefect (France)|prefects]]: [[Cayenne]] for [[French Guiana]], [[Basse-Terre]] for [[Guadeloupe]], [[Fort-de-France]] for [[Martinique]], [[Saint-Denis, Réunion|Saint-Denis]] for [[Réunion]] and [[Mamoudzou]] for [[Mayotte]].
 ==Duties and responsibilities==
+The prefect maritime is the representative of the State at sea, government delegate and direct representative of the Prime Minister and each of the ministers. It is vested with "authority in all areas where State action is exercised at sea".<ref name=Atlantic>[https://www.premar-atlantique.gouv.fr/page/le-prefet-maritime-5630      "Le Préfet Maritime." ''Préfet Maritime d'Atlanticue''.] Retrieved 2023-02-17.</ref>
-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 zone]]s, 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.
+The maritime prefect has general police powers and oversees the defense of sovereign rights and the interests of the Nation, the maintenance of public order, the safeguarding of persons and property, the protection environment and the coordination of the fight against illicit activities.<ref name=Atlantic/>
+The maritime prefect is a [[flag officer]] in the [[French Navy]], who combines this civil function with the military powers of "commander of the maritime zone" (operational control of the forces deployed in the maritime zone) and "commander of the maritime district" (commands naval units not under another command).<ref name=Atlantic/>
 ==List of maritime prefects==
-As of 2019, the three maritime prefects in metropolitan France are:<ref>https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/commandement</ref>
+As of 2019, the three maritime prefects in metropolitan France are:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/commandement |title=Commandement |access-date=2019-05-14 |archive-date=2020-05-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505125717/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/commandement |url-status=dead }}</ref>
-* [[English Channel|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)<ref>https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/commandement/manche-mer-du-nord/prefet-maritime-manche-mer-du-nord</ref>
+* [[English Channel|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)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/commandement/manche-mer-du-nord/prefet-maritime-manche-mer-du-nord |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511001723/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/commandement/manche-mer-du-nord/prefet-maritime-manche-mer-du-nord |archive-date=2019-05-11 |title=Préfet Maritime Manche Mer du Nord}}</ref>
-* [[Atlantic Ocean]] ([[Château de Brest]], [[Brest, France|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)<ref>https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/commandement/atlantique/prefet-maritime-de-l-atlantique</ref>
+* [[Atlantic Ocean]] ([[Château de Brest]], [[Brest, France|Brest]]): ''Vice-amiral d'escadre'' Olivier Lebas, ''ex-officio'' holds the title of Commander for the Atlantic (''Commandant en chef pour l'Atlantique'', CECLANT)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/commandement/atlantique/prefet-maritime-de-l-atlantique |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511001719/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/commandement/atlantique/prefet-maritime-de-l-atlantique |archive-date=2019-05-11 |title=Préfet Maritime de l'Atlantique}}</ref>
-* [[Mediterranean Sea]] ([[Toulon]]): ''Vice-amiral d'escadre'' Charles-Henri du Ché, ''ex-officio'' holds the title of [[Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean (France)|Commander for the Mediterranean]] (''Commandant en chef pour la Méditerranée'', CECMED)<ref>https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/commandement/mediterranee/prefet-maritime-de-la-mediterranee</ref>
+* [[Mediterranean Sea]] ([[Toulon]]): ''Vice-amiral d'escadre'' Gilles Boidevezi, ''ex-officio'' holds the title of [[Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean (France)|Commander for the Mediterranean]] (''Commandant en chef pour la Méditerranée'', CECMED)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/commandement/mediterranee/prefet-maritime-de-la-mediterranee |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511000216/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/commandement/mediterranee/prefet-maritime-de-la-mediterranee |archive-date=2019-05-11 |title=Préfet Maritime de la Méditerranée}}</ref>
 <gallery>
@@ Line 25: / Line 27: @@
 ==See also==
+*[[Directorate general for Maritime affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture]]
-*[[Prefect (France)]]
-*[[Prefectures in France]]
+*[[Maritime Gendarmerie]]
+*[[Coastguard Service of the French Customs]]
+*[[Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer]]
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
+[[Category:Maritime organisations based in France]]
 [[Category:French civil servants]]
 [[Category:French Navy]]
 [[Category:Admirals of France]]
+[[Category:Coast guards]]