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Yacht customs clearance & logistics services on the French Riviera
Swift Marine provides dedicated logistics and customs solutions for yachts and superyachts navigating on the French Riviera. We assist captains, crew, and management companies with regulatory formalities and on-shore operations. Our team ensures that equipment, parts, and supplies are delivered and cleared efficiently.
These logistics operations are often coordinated alongside yacht agent services, provisioning deliveries, and crew support services across Riviera ports.
International Shipments & Freight Coordination
We coordinate international and domestic shipments for yachts, working closely with suppliers, carriers, and ports to ensure timely delivery. This includes coordinating deliveries to major ports and marinas across the French Riviera, depending on the yacht’s itinerary.
Our services include:
- Express courier shipments (DHL, FedEx, UPS)
- Air freight and sea freight coordination
- Oversized or technical equipment handling
- Shipment tracking and delivery scheduling
- Coordination between suppliers, carriers, and the vessel
We track each shipment from start to finish, keeping delivery timing clear and reliable.
Customs Formalities & Import / Export Assistance
Navigating customs procedures requires accuracy and preparation. Our team handles customs- related documentation and communication with French Customs (Douanes) to ensure compliance.
We assist with:
- Customs declarations for goods and equipment
- Import and export procedures
- Documentation verification prior to arrival
- Coordination with customs offices when inspections are required
Warehouse, Storage & Local Transport
We provide practical storage and transport solutions to support yacht operations and maintenance schedules, with our own local warehouse based in Antibes.
Our support includes:
- Package receiving
- Short- and long-term storage solutions
- Container rental
- Transport organisation to the vessel or port
Temporary Admission, VAT & Regulatory Support
Our team is here to help yachts navigating in French waters with administrative formalities. This includes:
- Assistance with TPA procedures for eligible yachts
- Coordination of VAT-related procedures
- Temporary Admission
- Coordination with customs and relevant authorities where required
Customs Formalities & the TPA: What It Means in Practice
For non-EU yachts entering French waters, customs formalities apply from the moment of arrival, and getting them right is critical. Requirements such as the TPA and the IRP procedure for temporary admission are often misunderstood, yet missing a step can lead to inspections, fines, or delays that directly impact the yacht’s itinerary.
Since 1988, Swift Marine has been supporting yachts and superyachts with these processes, ensuring everything is prepared ahead of arrival. We review and handle the full customs file, make sure declarations are submitted correctly and on time, and work directly with French Customs when needed. Our Antibes warehouse also supports operations on the ground. Parts, provisions, and equipment shipped from abroad can be received, stored, and cleared through customs at our facility, then delivered to the vessel in line with its schedule, avoiding the constraints of quay-side logistics in busy ports.
Since 1988, Swift Marine has been supporting yachts and superyachts with these processes, ensuring everything is prepared ahead of arrival. We review and handle the full customs file, make sure declarations are submitted correctly and on time, and work directly with French Customs when needed. Our Antibes warehouse also supports operations on the ground. Parts, provisions, and equipment shipped from abroad can be received, stored, and cleared through customs at our facility, then delivered to the vessel in line with its schedule, avoiding the constraints of quay-side logistics in busy ports.
yacht logistics & customs
Operational Insights
Customs requirements vary depending on the yacht’s flag, whether it is private or commercial, and where it is arriving from. In most cases, French customs (Douanes) will typically request:
- vessel registration documents
- proof of ownership (such as a Bill of Sale, when applicable)
- crew and guest lists
- passports for everyone on board
- customs declarations for cash, goods, spare parts, or equipment
- commercial invoices or transport documents for shipped items
- proof of insurance
- the captain’s identification and contact details
Yes. Yachts arriving from or departing to non-Schengen destinations (such as Turkey, Montenegro, the UK, or destinations outside Europe) are subject to both customs and border control formalities in France. This involves French Customs (Douanes) for goods and vessel documentation, and the Police aux Frontières (PAF) for crew and passenger immigration. Arriving without the correct prior notification or documentation can result in inspections and delays. Swift Marine prepares the relevant customs file in advance of arrival and coordinates with the appropriate authorities to ensure the process is handled smoothly for both the vessel and all persons on board.
Temporary Admission (TA) allows non-EU yachts to operate in French (and EU) waters for a limited period without paying import VAT on the vessel, subject to specific conditions.
To qualify, the yacht must be owned by a non-EU resident and must not be used for commercial purposes within EU waters during the TA period. The IRP (Immatriculation au Répertoire des Personnes) is the French registration procedure linked to the TA process for non-EU vessels. Failing to follow the correct procedure — or exceeding the permitted period — can result in significant VAT liability. Swift Marine coordinates TA-related formalities and works directly with Customs to ensure the procedure is correctly followed.
To qualify, the yacht must be owned by a non-EU resident and must not be used for commercial purposes within EU waters during the TA period. The IRP (Immatriculation au Répertoire des Personnes) is the French registration procedure linked to the TA process for non-EU vessels. Failing to follow the correct procedure — or exceeding the permitted period — can result in significant VAT liability. Swift Marine coordinates TA-related formalities and works directly with Customs to ensure the procedure is correctly followed.
The TPA (Taxe sur les Passagers des Navires de Plaisance à Usage Professionnel) is a French tax applicable to commercially operated pleasure vessels carrying passengers in French territorial waters. It is calculated based on the number of passengers and the duration of navigation. The TPA applies to yachts operating commercially — typically under a charter licence — and is separate from VAT obligations. Non-compliance can result in fines during inspections by French Customs or maritime authorities. Swift Marine assists captains and management companies in determining whether the TPA applies to their specific situation and handles the necessary declarations to ensure compliance.
Yes. Our team provides administrative coordination of VAT-related procedures that may apply to yachts navigating in France, depending on their status and activities.
Our role is to support the administrative process by preparing documentation, coordinating with customs authorities when needed, and ensuring that procedures are handled in line with
applicable regulations. We do not provide tax advice, but we ensure that VAT-related formalities are managed accurately and efficiently.
Our role is to support the administrative process by preparing documentation, coordinating with customs authorities when needed, and ensuring that procedures are handled in line with
applicable regulations. We do not provide tax advice, but we ensure that VAT-related formalities are managed accurately and efficiently.
Yes. Swift Marine operates a warehouse in Antibes that receives and stores yacht equipment, spare parts, provisions, and other supplies on behalf of captains and management companies. Items can be held until the vessel arrives, until berth access permits delivery, or until multiple orders are ready to be consolidated into a single delivery run. This is particularly useful when shipments arrive ahead of the yacht's schedule, when quayside access is restricted, or when coordinating deliveries from multiple suppliers across different lead times.
Goods entering France from outside the EU — including spare parts, technical equipment, and provisions — may be subject to customs inspection and import duties if documentation is incomplete or incorrect. Common issues include missing invoices, incorrect declared values, or failure to apply for applicable exemptions in advance.
Customs inspections are part of routine controls and do not necessarily indicate a problem. When a shipment is held, Swift Marine coordinates with Customs, carriers, and suppliers to resolve the situation as quickly as possible — providing supporting documentation, arranging payment of duties where required, and keeping the captain informed throughout the process. In most cases, inspections are resolved within 24 to 48 hours, depending on the nature of the shipment and the completeness of documentation.
Customs inspections are part of routine controls and do not necessarily indicate a problem. When a shipment is held, Swift Marine coordinates with Customs, carriers, and suppliers to resolve the situation as quickly as possible — providing supporting documentation, arranging payment of duties where required, and keeping the captain informed throughout the process. In most cases, inspections are resolved within 24 to 48 hours, depending on the nature of the shipment and the completeness of documentation.
Related yacht support services on the French Riviera
Swift Marine coordinates several complementary yacht support services across the French Riviera. Alongside logistics and customs solutions, our teams assist captains and crew with crew assistance, yacht sourcing & provisioning, and yacht agent coordination in major Riviera ports. These services often work together to ensure smooth arrivals, deliveries, and onboard operations.