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Maritime Prefect

French Navy
(Marine Nationale)
Naval Ensign of France
Motto: Honneur, Patrie, Valeur, Discipline
(“Honour, Homeland, Valour, Discipline”)
Command
Naval Ministers
Maritime Prefect
Components
Naval Action Force
Submarine Forces
Naval Aviation
FORFUSCO (Marine Commandos, Naval Fusiliers)
Maritime Gendarmerie
Equipment
Current fleet
Current deployments
Personnel
Ranks in the French Navy
History
History of the French Navy
Future of the French Navy
Ensigns and pennants
Historic ships
Historic fleets
Awards
Cross of War
Military Medal
Legion of Honour
Ribbons

The Préfet Maritime is a servant of the French State who exercises authority over the sea in one particular region (a Préfecture maritime). As a civil servant, he reports to the Prime Minister. But the Maritime Prefect is simultaneously charged of military operations, and for this reason also reports to the chief of the general staff (CEMA, or Chef d'état-major des armées).

The dignity was created in 1800 to unify the command of harbours (civil administrator) and the command of the Navy (Admiral).

The préfet maritime is in charge of the French sovereignty at sea, monitoring operation, safety of the users, police and rescue operations, etc. He also commands all armed vessel linked to his place.

The present Préfectures maritimes are:

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



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Wikipedia

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