The maritime prefecture has launched a new public awareness campaign targeting dangerous behaviour on the water, as the summer season brings a surge of vessels onto the Côte d'Azur coastline and authorities report rising concern over speeding, unlicensed craft and scams targeting boat owners and renters.
The campaign, reported by France 3 Régions, covers three main areas of concern. The first is excessive speed, which remains the leading cause of serious accidents involving pleasure craft along the Riviera coast. The second is regulatory compliance, with a significant number of vessels found to be operating without the correct paperwork, insurance or licences during summer spot checks. The third is financial fraud, with the prefecture flagging a rise in rental scams and bogus boat-sharing schemes targeting tourists and holidaymakers who lack experience of the local market.
The Côte d'Azur receives more pleasure craft traffic in July and August than almost anywhere else in France, with Monaco, Antibes, Cannes and Saint-Tropez among the busiest stretches. Authorities say the combination of tourist inexperience, alcohol consumption and high-powered vessels creates serious risks that are predictable and preventable.
Source: France 3 Régions