{{Short description|Maritime branch of the French National Gendarmerie}} {{Infobox law enforcement agency | agencyname = Maritime Gendarmerie | nativename = ''Gendarmerie maritime'' | patch = File:Emblème de la Gendarmerie Maritime (Marine française).svg | patchcaption = | logo = | logocaption = | badge = | badgecaption = | flag = | flagcaption = | imagesize = | motto = | mottotranslated = | formed = 1832 – present<ref>{{cite web |title=La gendarmerie maritime |url=http://www.netmarine.net/bat/vcsm/commun/gendarmerie.htm |website=Net-Marine |access-date=1 February 2021 |language=French}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Le lieutenant-colonel Ebel |title=La gendarmerie de la restauration au second empire |url=https://www.force-publique.net/index.php?page=3&ch=&ti=86&idd=1350544701 |website=La société nationale de l’histoire et du patrimoine de la gendarmerie - société des amis du musée de la gendarmerie |access-date=1 February 2021 |language=French}}</ref> | employees = 1,157 | volunteers = | budget = | legalpersonality = | country = France | provost = yes | gendarmerie = yes | military = yes | speciality1 = coast | chief1name = | chief1position = <!-- (...up to 6...) --> | parentagency = National Gendarmerie | website = | footnotes = | reference = }} {{Gendarmerie Nat}}
The '''Maritime Gendarmerie''' ({{langx|fr|Gendarmerie maritime}}) is a component of the French National Gendarmerie under operational control of the chief of staff of the French Navy. It employs 1,157 personnel and operates around thirty patrol boats and high-speed motorboats distributed on the littoral waterways of France.<ref name="def">{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/forces/gendarmerie-maritime/la-gendarmerie-maritime|title=La gendarmerie maritime|date=2021-03-16|access-date=2021-12-21|publisher=Ministry of Defense|archive-date=2021-10-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008175348/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/forces/gendarmerie-maritime/la-gendarmerie-maritime|url-status=dead}}</ref> Like their land-based colleagues the Gendarmes Maritime are military personnel who carry out policing operations in addition to their primary role as a coast guard service. They also carry out provost duties within the French Navy.
The uniforms and insignia of the Gendarmerie Maritime are very similar to those of the French Navy, but the ranks used are those of the rest of the Gendarmerie (which are the same as the traditional ranks of the French Cavalry).
==Mission== The mission of the Maritime Gendarmerie is as follows:<ref>{{cite web|language=fr|url=https://www.gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr/notre-institution/nos-composantes/gendarmeries-specialisees/gendarmerie-maritime|title=La gendarmerie maritime|access-date=2021-12-21|publisher=Ministry of Interior}}</ref> * Maritime safety and of general police force duties in the territorial waters and EEZ, under the authority of the maritime prefect. * Criminal Investigation Department under the authority of public prosecutor. * Protection of the naval shore establishments. * Search and rescue.
==Organisation== The Maritime Gendarmerie is commanded by a colonel who is assisted by a staff located in Paris. The coastguard is divided into 3 groupings, 7 companies and 64 units (brigades of research, brigades of monitoring of the littoral, group of safety of the protected zones, group of monitoring of intervention and reinforcement, patrol craft, coastal high-speed motorboats of maritime surveillance) whose geographical distribution is as follows:<ref name="def"/>
* Metropolitan France : ** grouping of the English Channel and the North Sea in Cherbourg (2 companies) ** grouping of the Atlantic in Brest (4 companies); ** grouping of the Mediterranean in Toulon (2 companies); **company from Paris to the Career-on-Seine (under the authority of the headquarters); ** national instruction center of the GM (C.N.I.G.M) in Toulon. * Overseas: ** Guadeloupe: 1 patrol craft (''Violette'');<ref>{{cite web | url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/guadeloupe/un-nouveau-commandant-pour-le-la-violette-un-navire-indispensable-a-la-lutte-contre-la-drogue-en-guadeloupe-1310184.html | title=Un nouveau commandant pour le "La Violette", un navire indispensable à la lutte contre la drogue en Guadeloupe }}</ref> ** French Guiana: 2 high-speed 20-metre motorboats (''Charente'' and ''Organabo''); ** Mayotte: 2 high-speed 20-metre patrol boats ''Verdon''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marine Nationale Dossier d'Information, pp. 19 and 23 |url=https://www.colsbleus.fr/sites/default/files/2023-02/DIM%202023_PLANCHE_0.pdf |date=January 2023 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Cols Bleus |language=fr |archive-date=2023-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304112422/https://www.colsbleus.fr/sites/default/files/2023-02/DIM%202023_PLANCHE_0.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ''Odet'' (replaced by ''Adour'' in early 2025 due to damage to both by Cyclone Chido in December 2024)<ref name="Groizeleau">{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/mayotte-la-gendarmerie-maritime-doit-remplacer-ses-vedettes-coulees-par-le-cyclone-chido|title=Mayotte : la Gendarmerie maritime doit remplacer ses vedettes, coulées par le cyclone Chido |work=Mer et Marine |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |language=fr |date=6 February 2025 |access-date=7 February 2025}}</ref><ref name="meretmarine.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/mayotte-une-vedette-de-la-gendarmerie-maritime-et-le-remorqueur-de-la-marine-jetes-a-la-cote |title=Mayotte : une vedette de la Gendarmerie maritime et le remorqueur de la marine jetés à la côte |work=Mer et Marine |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |language=fr |date=18 December 2024 |access-date=18 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/french-gendarmerie-maritime-adour-coast-surveillance-vessel-news-photo/2210685959 |title=FRANCE-OVERSEAS-MAYOTTE-POLITICS: French Gendarmerie Maritime "Adour" coast surveillance vessel sails as France's President Emmanuel Macron patrols with officials on board a boat of the border police, who fights against illegal immigration, as part of his visit on the cyclone-hit French overseas territory of Mayotte, off the coast of Mamoudzou on April 21, 2025.|website=Getty Images |date=21 April 2025 |access-date=27 June 2025}}</ref> ** French Polynesia: 1 patrol craft (''Jasmin'') and a brigade; ** New Caledonia: 1 high-speed motorboat of 20 meters (''Dumbéa'') and 2 brigades;
==Personnel== thumb|247x247px|Two members of the Maritime Gendarmerie in a rubber boat. Commissioned officers are recruited from holders of a master's degree; non-commissioned officers from holders of a high school diploma giving access to university studies; auxiliary gendarmes are recruited without any specific educational prerequisite. Members of the maritime gendarmerie are recruited among officers, nco's and auxiliary gendarmes with a few years of general gendarmerie service. Certificate of competency for sea or inland water navigation and training in scuba diving is a merit for those who wants to join. Within the maritime gendarmerie there exists further specializations such as coxswain, mechanic, diver, underwater investigation technician, maritime and port security operative and watch-keeping officer.<ref name=Mar>[https://www.gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr/recrutement/decouvrir-nos-metiers/gendarme-en-unite-nautique-et-maritime "Gendarme en unité nautique et maritime." ''La gendarmerie recrute.''] Retrieved March 26, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr/gendinfo/dossiers/suretes-aerienne-et-maritime/la-gendarmerie-maritime-gendarmerie-specialisee-entre-terre-et-mer "La gendarmerie maritime : gendarmerie spécialisée entre terre et mer." ''Gendinfo.'' ] Retrieved March 26, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr/gendinfo/dossiers/suretes-aerienne-et-maritime/pelotons-de-surete-maritime-et-portuaire-intervention-renforcee "Pelotons de sûreté maritime et portuaire : intervention renforcée."] Retrieved March 26, 2023.</ref> {| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;" {{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}} |- style="text-align:center;" | rowspan=1 | '''{{flagicon image|Emblème de la Gendarmerie Maritime (Marine française).svg}} Maritime Gendarmerie''' | rowspan=2 colspan=8| | colspan=2| 100px | colspan=2| 100px | colspan=2| 100px | colspan=2| 100px | colspan=2| 100px | colspan=3| 100px |- style="text-align:center;" | rowspan=1| Rank title | colspan=2| {{lang|fr|Général de brigade}} | colspan=2| {{lang|fr|Colonel}} | colspan=2| {{lang|fr|Lieutenant-Colonel}} | colspan=2| {{lang|fr|Chef d'Escadron}} | colspan=2| {{lang|fr|Capitaine}} | colspan=3| {{lang|fr|Lieutenant}} |}
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;" {{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/Blank}} |- style="text-align:center;" | rowspan=1 | '''{{flagicon image|Emblème de la Gendarmerie Maritime (Marine française).svg}} Maritime Gendarmerie''' | colspan=3| 100px | colspan=3| 100px | colspan=2| 100px | colspan=2 rowspan=2| | colspan=6| 100px | colspan=3| 100px | colspan=1 rowspan=2| | colspan=1| 100px | colspan=1| 100px | colspan=4| 100px | colspan=2| 100px | colspan=6| 100px | colspan=2| 100px |- style="text-align:center;" | rowspan=1| Rank title | colspan=3| {{lang|fr|Major}} | colspan=3| {{lang|fr|Adjudant-chef}} | colspan=2| {{lang|fr|Adjudant}} | colspan=6| {{lang|fr|Maréchal des Logis-Chef}} | colspan=3| {{lang|fr|Gendarme}} | colspan=1| {{lang|fr|Élève Sous-officer}} | colspan=1| {{lang|fr|Gendarme Adjoint Maréchal-des-logis}} | colspan=4| {{lang|fr|Gendarme Adjoint brigadier-chef}} | colspan=2| {{lang|fr|Gendarme Adjoint brigadier}} | colspan=6| {{lang|fr|Gendarme Adjoint première classe}} | colspan=2| {{lang|fr|Gendarme Adjoint deuxième classe}} |}
==Patrol boats== {| class="wikitable" |- ! style="text-align:left; width:5%;"|Class ! style="text-align:left; width:4%;"|Picture ! style="text-align:left; width:4%;"|Type ! style="text-align:left; width:15%;"|Boat ! style="text-align:left; width:2%;"|Displacement ! style="text-align:left; width:8%;"|Note |- | '''PCG-NG class''' || || Patrol boat ||P727 ''Rozel''<br /> P728 ''Beuzeval'' || 350 tonnes || P727 based in Cherbourg, joined by P-728 (temporarily assigned to the navy);<ref>{{cite web |date=3 March 2026 |title=Cérémonie de prise d’armement pour essais du patrouilleur côtier Beuzeval |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/actualites/ceremonie-prise-darmement-essais-du-patrouilleur-cotier-beuzeval |access-date=7 March 2026 |website=Marine Nationale |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |date=16 February 2026 |title=La Marine nationale récupère le deuxième patrouilleur côtier de la Gendarmerie maritime|url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-marine-nationale-recupere-le-deuxieme-patrouilleur-cotier-de-la-gendarmerie-maritime |url-access=subscription |access-date=16 February 2026 |work=Mer et Marine |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/le-pom-jean-tranape-officiellement-baptise-a-calais |title=Le POM Jean Tranape officiellement baptisé à Calais |work=Mer et Marine |date=8 December 2025 |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |access-date=8 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/gendarmerie-maritime-prise-d-armement-pour-essais-du-patrouilleur-cotier-rozel | title=Gendarmerie maritime : prise d’armement pour essais du patrouilleur côtier Rozel |website=Mer et Marine |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |date=4 April 2025 }}</ref> up to four more vessels planned to replace ''Géranium'' and ''Jonquille'' classes between 2026 and 2029<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bairdmaritime.com/security/non-naval-security/police/vessel-review-pcg-rozel-new-coastal-patrol-boat-for-frances-national-gendarmerie | title= PCG Rozel – New coastal patrol boat for France's National Gendarmerie |website=Baird Maritime |date=3 December 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/socarenam-le-premier-des-nouveaux-patrouilleurs-de-la-gendarmerie-maritime-en-achevement-a-flot | title=Socarenam : le premier des nouveaux patrouilleurs de la Gendarmerie maritime en achèvement à flot |website=Mer et Marine |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |date=2 October 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://lessor.org/operationnel/six-nouveaux-patrouilleurs-cotiers-pour-la-gendarmerie | title=Six nouveaux patrouilleurs côtiers pour la Gendarmerie maritime }}</ref> |- | '''''Géranium'' class''' || 150px || Patrol boat || P719 ''Armoise''<br /> P720 ''Géranium''<br /> P722 ''Violette'' || 100 tonnes || P719 based in Cherbourg is former Directorate for Maritime Affairs vessel pending arrival of PCG-NG boats starting 2025<ref>{{cite web | url=https://actu.fr/normandie/cherbourg-en-cotentin_50129/defense-cherbourg-apres-40-ans-de-services-ces-deux-patrouilleurs-quittent-la-base-navale_55806797.html | title=Défense. Cherbourg : après 40 ans de services, ces deux patrouilleurs quittent la base navale; La Presse de la Manche | date=10 December 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/gendarmerie-maritime-le-patrouilleur-armoise-rejoint-enfin-cherbourg | title=Gendarmerie maritime : le patrouilleur Armoise rejoint enfin Cherbourg; Mer et Marine |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent| date=24 February 2023 }}</ref> P720 based in Lorient;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lorient. Un nouveau pacha pour le patrouilleur Géranium |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/bretagne/lorient-56100/lorient-un-nouveau-pacha-pour-le-patrouilleur-geranium-c91d81dc-1a21-11ec-8186-dddbead8a307 |date=20 September 2021 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=ouestfrance |language=fr |last=Jaouen |first=Catherine }} </ref> P722 in Pointe à Pitre<ref>{{Cite web |title=La "Violette" des Forces Armées aux Antilles à la Renconte de Guirec Soudée |url=https://www.journaldesaintbarth.com/actualites/vie-quotidienne/la-violette-des-forces-armees-aux-antilles-a-la-rencontre-de-guirec-soudee-202103051430.html |date=3 May 2021 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Le Journal de Saint-Barth |language=fr }}</ref> |- | '''''Jonquille'' class''' || || Patrol boat || P721 ''Jonquille''<br /> P723 ''Jasmin'' || 98 tonnes || P721 based in Toulon;<ref> {{Cite web |title=Zoom sur une petite " marée " de la Jonquille |url=https://www.amis-gendarmerie.com/fr/la-gendarmerie/zoom-sur/2822-zoom-sur-une-petite-%C2%AB-mar%C3%A9e-%C2%BB-de-la-jonquille.html |date=18 August 2021 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Les Amis de la Gendarmerie |language=fr }}</ref> P723 in Papeete<ref>{{Cite web |title=Le Jasmin sera remplacé en 2024 |url=https://www.service-public.pf/dpam/2019/06/12/le-jasmin-sera-remplace-en-2024/ |date=12 June 2019 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Direction Polynésienne des Affaires Maritimes |language=fr }}</ref> |- | '''''Maroni'' class''' || || Patrol boat ||P692 ''Maroni ''<br /> P693 ''Oyapock''<br /> P694 ''Aber Ildut'' || 72.5 tonnes || Based in English Channel/North Sea region: Cherbourg, Dunkirk and Boulogne-sur-Mer<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.edrmagazine.eu/the-french-navy-receives-the-first-two-new-generation-maritime-surveillance-coastal-patrol-boats | title=The French Navy receives the first two new generation maritime surveillance coastal patrol boats | date=28 April 2022 }}</ref> |- | '''''Elorn'' class''' || 150px || Patrol craft || P601 ''Elorn''<br />P602 ''Verdon''<br />P603 ''Adour''<br />P604 ''Scarpe''<br />P605 ''Vertonne''<br />P606 ''Dumbéa''<br />P607 ''Yser''<br />P608 ''Argens''<br />P609 ''Hérault''<br />P610 ''Gravona''<br />P611 ''Odet''<br />P612 ''Maury''<br />P613 ''Charente''<br />P614 ''Tech''<br />P615 ''Penfeld''<br />P616 ''Trieux''<br />P617 ''Vésubie''<br />P618 ''Escaut''<br />P619 ''Huveaune''<br />P620 ''Sèvre''<br />P621 ''Aber Wrac'h''<br />P622 ''Esteron''<br />P623 ''Mahury''<br />P624 ''Organabo'' || 41 tonnes || As of 2023: 11 units reported based in the Atlantic/English Channel/North Sea region; 7 in the Mediterranean; 2 in French Guiana; 2 in Mayotte; 1 in New Caledonia (one vessel - ''Mahury'', P623 - reported unserviceable as of late 2022;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marine Nationale Dossier d'Information, pp. 19 and 23 |url=https://www.colsbleus.fr/sites/default/files/2023-02/DIM%202023_PLANCHE_0.pdf |date=January 2023 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Cols Bleus |language=fr |archive-date=2023-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304112422/https://www.colsbleus.fr/sites/default/files/2023-02/DIM%202023_PLANCHE_0.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/le-marfret-niolon-emmene-une-vedette-de-la-gendarmerie-maritime-en-guyane |title=Le Marfret Niolon emmène une vedette de la Gendarmerie maritime en Guyane |work=Mer et Marine |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |language=fr |date=5 December 2022 |access-date=6 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr/gendinfo/actualites/2022/la-gendarmerie-maritime-monte-a-bord-de-nouvelles-vedettes |title=La gendarmerie maritime monte à bord de nouvelles vedettes |website=Ministère de l'Intéreiur et des outre-mer |language=fr |date=5 May 2022 |access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref> ''Odet'' and ''Verdon'' - P602 & P611 - reportedly damaged "beyond repair" in Mayotte by Cyclone Chido in December 2024; replaced by P603 ''Adour'' in early 2025)<ref name="Groizeleau"/><ref name="meretmarine.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/french-gendarmerie-maritime-adour-coast-surveillance-vessel-news-photo/2210685959 |title=FRANCE-OVERSEAS-MAYOTTE-POLITICS: French Gendarmerie Maritime "Adour" coast surveillance vessel sails as France's President Emmanuel Macron patrols with officials on board a boat of the border police, who fights against illegal immigration, as part of his visit on the cyclone-hit French overseas territory of Mayotte, off the coast of Mamoudzou on April 21, 2025.|website=Getty Images |date=21 April 2025 |access-date=27 June 2025}}</ref> |- | '''''Pavois'' class''' || || Patrol craft || P692 ''Pavois''<br />P693 ''Ecu''<br />P964 ''Rondache''<br />P695 ''Harnois''<br />P696 ''Haubert''<br />P697 ''Heaume''<br />P698 ''Brigantine''<br />P699 ''Gantelet''|| 10.2 tonnes || All boats in service since 2011; reported based in: Le Havre (2 units), Port de Bouc (2 units), Marseille, Cherbourg, Brest and Toulon<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.netmarine.net/g/bat/vsmp/ | title=Les vedettes de surveillance maritime et portuaire (VSMP) |website=netmarine.net}}</ref> |- | '''''Armet'' class''' || || Training vessel || P801 ''Armet''|| 17.2 tonnes ||Assigned to the maritime gendarmerie training center in Toulon |- |}
==See also== *Coastguard Service of the French Customs *Directorate general for Maritime affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture *Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer *Brigades nautiques et fluviales
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/forces/gendarmerie-maritime/la-gendarmerie-maritime Official Site of the Gendarmerie Maritime on Ministry of Defense] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008175348/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/operations/forces/gendarmerie-maritime/la-gendarmerie-maritime |date=2021-10-08 }} French only *[https://www.gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr/notre-institution/nos-composantes/gendarmeries-specialisees/gendarmerie-maritime Official Site of the Gendarmerie Maritime on Ministry of Interior] French only *[http://www.anciens-cols-bleus.net/CORPS-c2/GENDARMERIE-MARITIME-f34.htm Forum anciens Gendarmes Maritimes] French only
{{European Border and Coast Guard|state=expanded}} {{Law enforcement agencies of France}} {{Coast guards}}
Category:Units and formations of the French Gendarmerie Gendarmerie Category:Maritime safety in France Category:Coast guards Category:Port law enforcement agencies Category:Maritime law enforcement agencies Category:Maritime organisations based in France Category:1832 establishments in France