The Harbourmaster’s Office

The Harbourmaster’s role

The Harbourmaster’s Offices of Le Havre and Rouen keep a continuous watch on maritime navigation in the port:

• they provide traffic forecasts and monitor maritime traffic in access channels and anchorage areas,
• they determine the order in which ships enter and exit the port and all port vessel movements,
• they determine the placing and berthing of ships,
• they offer navigation assistance for port entry and provide information on ship port calls on the Internet,
• they are responsible for policing port waters, monitoring dangerous goods, operational waste and cargo residues, levels of ship security and application of anti-pollution measures in port waters,
• they participate in the conservation of the port domain, port safety and security, and environmental protection,
• they manage emergency situations in consultation with the relevant government departments (Prefecture, Fire Service, etc.),
• they participate in hydrological monitoring of water.
   

Good to know: Port officers and their deputies are sworn to record breaches of regulations and issue fines. Their official duties are defined by France’s Seaports Code and Transport Code.

Equipment

The possess the best possible equipment and rely on complete radar coverage of the port approaches, access channel and docks.

The Rouen Harbourmaster’s Office is assisted by the Honfleur and Radicatel radar towers by the Honfleur and Port-Jerome sub-offices.

To find out more about the Harbourmaster’s Office: follow the movements of expected ships, in or out of dock, consult the Le Havre and Rouen portals.

Operational scope

• The scope of operations of the Le Havre extends from the port access channel up to the Tancarville locks and including Le Havre-Antifer port.
• The scope of operations of the Rouen Harbourmaster’s Office extends from the Seine navigation channel (starting in Honfleur) up to the downstream boundary of the port (Jeanne d'Arc bridge).

Key figures