By Yasmine EDDAM
23 April 2025
Even with the utmost caution, accidents can happen on waterways. A collision between two vessels (a collision), or the need to rescue a vessel in difficulty (assistance), immediately raises complex questions of liability and compensation. Who should pay for the damage? Does the intervention of a rescuer give the right to a reward? French river law lays down specific rules for these events, distinct from maritime law or general law. Understanding these rules is essential for all users of rivers and canals. For safe and compliant navigation, it is essential to be familiar with all the essential rules governing navigation on French waterways. Collision between river vessels: a specific regime When a collision occurs between two vessels on a French inland waterway (excluding the Rhine and Moselle, which have their own rules), it is mainly the law of 5 July 1934 relating to the collision of...
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