In order to ensure the maritime defense of the territory, the French Navy is tasked with monitoring France's maritime approaches, on, under and above the sea. All naval forces, including the Maritime Gendarmerie, operate daily from the coastline to the high seas to contribute to the protection of the territory and the French people as part of this ongoing mission.

In addition to the maritime defense of the territory which is a military mission entrusted to the maritime zone commander, under the authority of the Chief of Defense, the French Navy also carries out missions of public interest within the interdepartmental framework of the action of the State at sea. This is carried out under the authority of the Maritime Prefect off mainland France and of the government’s delegate in the overseas territories. The action of the State at sea is responsible for defending the sovereign rights and interests of the nation, maintaining public order at sea and protecting people and property along the 19,000 km of coastline (including 5,800 km along the mainland) and the 11 million skm of maritime space under French sovereignty and jurisdiction. For these two missions, nearly 1,500 sailors are involved on a daily basis, both in mainland France and overseas, in surveillance, intelligence and intervention to protect France, the French people and maritime areas.

In order to detect, anticipate and possibly thwart any threat at sea, specific security measures known as maritime safety measures, will be implemented during the arrival of the Olympic flame in Marseilles in the spring and during the nautical events in Marseilles and Tahiti this summer.

As part of the interministerial framework of the interministerial action of the State at seas the particular maritme security measures will implement means of the French Navy, the Maritime Gendarmerie, the National Gendarmerie, Customs, Maritime Affairs and Civil Security. The French Navy with its offshore capabilities participates in securing the area in depth and on specific competencies such as mine detection and combating marine pollution.

The Maritime Gendarmerie for its part, has means adapted to coastal surveillance through its patrol vessels. These maritime security measures will be placed under the authority of the Admiral, Maritime Prefect of the Mediterranean in Marseille and the Admiral commanding the Armed Forces in French Polynesia in Teahupo'o in Tahiti, in his capacity as maritime zone commander and adviser to the government delegate for State action at sea in this territory.

During the arrival of the Olympic flame from Athens aboard the sailboat "Belem" and during the naval parade accompanying it in the harbor of Marseille, the maritime prefecture of the Mediterranean will set up a command post that will coordinate the maritime security measures. The French Navy will make a major contribution to this interministerial device to secure a particularly busy waterway and ensure a protective bubble around the flame bearer.

In the summer, the sailing events in Marseille will mobilize nearly 300 people per day, following the same logic of inter-agency collaboration. It should be noted that in addition to security, the implemented measures will also allow for sea rescue under the coordination of CROSS MED, notably with the support of the Marseille Maritime Fire Battalion and Civil Security.

In Tahiti, finally the French Navy and the Maritime Gendarmerie will deploy a specific device consisting of nautical means and maritime surveillance aircraft during the surfing events to monitor the waterways and vessels hosting the athletes.

Did you know ?

The Maritime Gendarmerie is a specialized unit of the National Gendarmerie (Ministry of the Interior) attached to the Chief of staff of the Navy. Its staff numbers around 1200 gendarmes and its nautical resources provide coastal surveillance in mainland France and overseas (public order at sea, maritime rescue, maritime defense of the territory, and judicial police). It also has land-based resources in France's main civilian and military ports (maritime and port protection, defence and security).

The Marseille Maritime Fire Battalion is an unit composed of sailors fighting daily against almost all risks identified by civil security in Marseille. It combines military status and expertise with civil security skills. The Marseille Maritime Fire Battalion is also a specialized force in civil security for ships at sea and in ports, serving the nation and reinforcing the European level. It is the leading unit in terms of the number of interventions per thousand inhabitants (136 interventions per 100 inhabitants, compared to 63 on average nationally). It has 2 600 military and civilian personnel.