TRANSPORT OF YOUR BOAT

28/10/2021

The width of your boat is greater than 2.55m

 

You therefore need to apply for an individual exceptional transport permit of 1st category.

 

Individual exceptional transport permit of 1st category

 

Convoy characteristics	1st category
Length (m)	<20
Width (m)	<3
Total weight (kg)	<48,000

 

The highest characteristic determines the convoy group.

Who to request the permit from?

The permit for exceptional convoys to circulate is issued by the prefect of the department of the departure location or the entry department in France for exceptional transports coming from abroad.

To obtain this permit, you must submit a request to the instructor service of the DDE of the concerned department, which processes the request on behalf of the prefect.

 

The permit can be:

• Permanent individual on a predetermined network

It is the applicant's responsibility to carry out or have carried out, under their responsibility, the route recognition they intend to take.

 

• Permanent individual on a specific route

This permit allows access to a specific motorway section. It is valid between an identified departure point and an arrival point. The permit holder must comply with the terms of the permit, otherwise they face severe penalties.

 

• Individual per trip on a specific route

The permit is granted for a determined number of trips to be made over a defined period and concerns a specific route between an identified departure and arrival point. When applying, all these details must be included in the CERFA form to be completed.

This nominative permit is issued upon request. It is granted for a defined duration and/or a limited number of trips depending on the transport category.

 

Exceptional transport of 1st category

You must carry in your vehicle the national map of routes for exceptional transports of 1st category. You must also have the highway circulation prescription book and the booklet of special circulation conditions for crossing certain urban areas or particular points.

 

• Permanent individual permit related to all or part of a department's road network

It is issued for a maximum period of 5 years. It is given to the applicant whose company's headquarters (or, if applicable, the departmental agency) is located in this department or in an adjoining department. When the applicant needs to make a connecting trip, a connection permit request must be made at the prefecture.

 

• Permanent individual permit related to the entire road network

When traveling under this permit, the permit holder may join the network from their loaded departure point or leave it to reach their arrival point, under their responsibility, within a journey not exceeding 20 km, connecting as directly as possible to the road network defined on the national map of routes for exceptional transports of 1st category and respecting all prescriptions related to heavy vehicle circulation. This permit is granted for a maximum duration of 5 years.

 

• Permanent individual permit on a specific route

It applies only for an identified entry and arrival point. It is granted for a fixed duration not exceeding 5 years and for an unlimited number of trips.

 

• Permanent individual per trip permit on a specific route

It is granted for a determined number of trips to be performed over a defined period and concerns a specific route between an identified departure and arrival point.

 

• Connection permits

They can only be issued for a maximum duration not exceeding that of the initial permanent individual permit. They may be either permanent or per trip.

 

General circulation prohibitions

The prohibition principle applies to all vehicles or road units having exceptional dimensions and/or weight exceeding regulatory limits.

Circulation of exceptional convoys is forbidden on the entire road and motorway network from Saturday or holiday eve at 12pm to Monday or holiday following day at 6am. This principle can only be waived by authorized exemption if absolute necessity exists, considering local circumstances requiring the crossed department prefect to rule favorably.

These prohibitions also apply during frost barriers closure, on certain routes, in snow or ice conditions, or when visibility is insufficient.

 

Regulatory exemptions for motorway circulation

The exemption is granted by the prefect to whom the request was made.

Exceptional convoys of 1st category may be allowed to circulate on motorways appearing on the national map of routes if their permanent individual permit mentions it.

You must request exemption to travel on the motorway section(s) you wish to use from the prefecture of the transport departure department, or the entry department for international convoys. You send a copy of the individual permit request to each manager of the concerned motorway sections.

These exemptions do not apply during the following bans:

• from Saturday or holiday eve at 12pm to Monday and holiday following day at 6am;
• during additional annual restriction periods and on the specified routes;
• in icy conditions, reduced visibility (less than 150m) or due to unfavorable weather conditions;
• when free-flowing traffic exceeds 600 vehicles per hour;
• when special works impose circulation restrictions.

For this circulation to be lawful, the transport must have been authorized by an individual permit or a local scope permit.

 

Speed

For exceptional convoys of 1st category:

• 80 km/h on motorways,
• 60 km/h on other roads,
• 70 km/h on priority roads,
• 40 km/h in urban areas.

Convoy escort

For 1st category, escort is not required.

 

Lighting and signaling

Exceptional convoys and escort vehicles must comply with prescribed lighting and signaling instructions.

Exceptional convoys must be signaled by:

 

• Rotating lights in orange color at front and rear: 1 for 1st category
• Clearance lights: 2 white at front and 2 red at rear placed as close as possible to the extreme overall width of the convoy
• Side lights in yellow orange towards front and red or orange towards rear, symmetrically placed on each side of the convoy
• Orange catadioptric devices placed on each side of the convoy between consecutive side lights so that the distances between two catadioptrics are 4m or more
• Rectangular panels bearing the mention "convoi exceptionnel" in black letters on a yellow background. These panels must meet minimum sizes of 1.20m x 0.40m with inscription on two lines or 1.90m x 0.25m with inscription on one line and must be placed vertically at the front of exceptional convoys. They must be visible at night from a minimum distance of 300m. The absence of such a panel may lead to prosecution.

   

Exceptional convoys with significant overhangs:

 

Front overhang:

• If it exceeds 2m, 1 or 2 white lights delimiting the overhang profile and square panels, 1 at the load extremity facing forward, and 1 on each side of the overhang;
• If it reaches 5m and for each increase of 3m, 2 additional lights and 2 panels are required on the sides.

Rear overhang:

• If it exceeds 1m, 1 or 2 red lights delimiting the overhang profile and square panels, 1 at the load extremity facing rear, and 1 on each side of the overhang;
• If it reaches 4m and for each increase of 3m, 2 additional lights and 2 square panels are required on the sides.

Lateral overhang:

• Must be signaled by 1 rotating or discharge tube light placed at the extremity of the median side overhang.

Vehicles must circulate with dipped headlights on day and night.