Division 240: compulsory safety equipment on board, zone by zone
- Vessels ≤ 24 m
- 4 sailing zones
- 2026 update
- Printable checklist
Division 240 is the French regulation that sets the compulsory safety equipment on board pleasure boats under 24 metres, for personal or training use. Sailboat, motorboat, RIB or catamaran: as soon as you go to sea, it says which life jackets, location devices and safety equipment to carry, depending on the distance between you and a shelter.
This guide, kept up to date by the LOCVOILIER team in Marseille, explains the text once and for all: its origin, its revisions up to the order of 21 May 2026, the four sailing zones on an animated map, the first-aid kit, the expiry calendar and a checklist to tick off live on the boat.
- Origin: order of 23/11/1987
- Latest revision: 21/05/2026
- Scope: vessels ≤ 24 m
- 4 graduated zones
A regulation, not just another technical standard
Division 240 is the regulation annexed to the order of 23 November 1987 on ship safety and pollution prevention, itself linked to decree no. 84-810 of 30 August 1984 on the safety of life at sea. It sets two things: the conditions of use, and the safety equipment that must be carried on board any pleasure craft, boat or vessel for personal or training use with a hull length of 24 metres or less.
What it sets
A list of compulsory equipment — life jackets, location devices, fire extinguishers, VHF, liferaft, compass, etc. — which varies according to the number of people on board, the type of vessel and the sailing zone. Some equipment must meet a specific standard, carry a marking, or be within its expiry date.
What it does not set
Division 240 does not cover the construction or design of the vessel (that is the “CE” recreational craft directive marking, or Division 245 for vessels excluded from it) and does not cover commercial use with passengers, which falls under Division 241 (NUC — see below).
Six overhauls in almost forty years
The text has never changed in nature since 1987, but it has been revised several times to keep pace with changes in equipment, practices and European standards.
Original text
Order of 23 November 1987 on ship safety. Creation of Division 240.
First overhaul
Order of 11 March 2008 (Official Journal of 8 April 2008): update of definitions and equipment.
Complete overhaul
Order of 2 December 2014, in force from 1 May 2015: entirely new wording of articles 240-1.01 to 240-3.20.
Creation of the semi-offshore zone
Order of 6 May 2019, in force from 1 June 2019: from 3 to 4 sailing zones.
Safety strengthened
Order of 11 October 2024 (Official Journal 30/10/2024): kill cord, PFDs, compass, harness, VHF watch, loan/charter declaration.
Current version
Order of 21 May 2026: electric vs motorised boards, loan/charter framework clarified, numbering harmonised.
Who, where and why
Three simple questions are enough to know whether you are concerned — and the answer is almost always yes as soon as you sail at sea on a pleasure boat under 24 metres.
Every skipper in charge
- Owners and renters, for personal or training use.
- Every pleasure vessel ≤ 24 m hull length: sailboat, motorboat, RIB, catamaran, trimaran, PWC (jet ski), tender, beach craft.
- Whatever the flag, provided the owner has their tax residence or registered office in France — a rule introduced in 2016 to end “flag of convenience” registration abroad.
At sea, according to the distance from a shelter
- Applies to navigation at sea in the waters, territorial or not, used by the vessel.
- The whole structure of the text rests on the notion of a shelter: the further you go from one, the longer the equipment list.
- Special case of tenders: within 300 m of a shelter (the mother ship counts as one), no equipment is required.
Crew safety, the skipper’s responsibility
- Setting safety objectives that the sailor must meet, not just an administrative list.
- Article 240-1.03: the text explicitly defines the requirements of the role of skipper in charge.
- Facilitating rescue operations and checks at sea (maritime affairs, maritime gendarmerie, customs).
Four zones, one principle: the distance to a shelter
A shelter is a place on the coast, or any craft, boat or vessel, where the crew can reach safety by anchoring, landing or coming alongside — and leave again without assistance. The notion takes account of the weather at the time and the characteristics of the vessel, not only the distance on the chart.
Each set of equipment includes the previous one. Coastal equipment includes basic equipment, semi-offshore includes coastal, offshore includes semi-offshore. Click a zone below to see its cumulative equipment.
Basic equipment
≤ 2 miles from a shelter| Equipment | Basic | Coastal | Semi-offshore | Offshore |
|---|
Summary view for educational purposes, built from the consolidated text of Division 240 and its annexes (240-A.3 to 240-A.5). Exact quantities depend on the number of people on board and the type of vessel: only the full text and its quantified annexes are authoritative — links at the bottom of the page.
What is really in the first-aid kit
Article 240-2.19 sets a framework composition for the first-aid kit, compulsory from semi-offshore sailing (more than 6 miles from a shelter) and recommended in all cases. The skipper can add to it according to the programme — but it is also the equipment whose expiry dates most often go unnoticed.
Indicative diagram — each packaged product carries its own expiry date to be checked individually.
Wounds and cuts
- Sterile compresses, several sizes
- Assorted adhesive dressings
- Hypoallergenic tape
- Skin antiseptic in single doses
- Disposable gloves
Bleeding control and trauma
- Stretch bandages, several widths
- Triangular sling
- Pressure dressing
- Safety pins, flexible splint
Burns and environment
- Special burn dressings
- Saline solution in single doses
- Thermal blanket
- Instant cold pack
Tools and equipment
- Round-tipped scissors, splinter tweezers
- Thermometer
- Mouth-to-mouth protection mask
- Spare torch or head torch
Monitoring and procedures
- First-aid instruction sheet
- Log of care given on board
- Emergency numbers displayed: VHF channel 16, CROSS, 15 / 18 / 112
Almost every product has its own expiry date — printed on the individual packaging, not on the kit itself. It is the point most often forgotten before a trip, and the first thing missing when you need it. For any medicine beyond basic first aid (painkillers, anti-nausea…), a pharmacist’s advice remains necessary: LOCVOILIER does not set any dosage. The full calendar of deadlines to watch — kit included — is detailed just below.
The expiry calendar you must never miss
This is often where, more than in the presence of the equipment itself, people get caught out: an expired life jacket, flare or liferaft is treated, during a check, as if it were missing. It is an offence — the breach gives rise to a fine whose amount is set by the inspecting officer (maritime affairs, maritime gendarmerie or customs) according to the scale in force at the time — with, more seriously still, the risk of not being able to rely on that equipment when you really need it.
| Equipment | What expires | Check frequency | Consequence if forgotten | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-aid kitArt. 240-2.19 | Expiry date of each product (compresses, antiseptic, saline solution, burn dressings) | Before every long trip + full check at the start of the season | Product unusable or less effective when needed | Critical |
| Distress rockets & red hand flares | Pyrotechnic validity — usually 3 to 4 years from manufacture | Start of season, then before every semi-offshore or offshore trip | Treated as missing equipment during a check; regulated disposal compulsory, never in the bin | Critical |
| Automatic inflatable life jackets | CO2 cartridge and water-soluble tablet | Annual check; service at an approved workshop recommended every 2 to 3 years | Life jacket that does not inflate automatically in a fall overboard | Critical |
| Inflatable liferaft | Periodic service at an approved workshop | According to the manufacturer’s label — often every 1 to 3 years | Liferaft potentially out of order at the critical moment; non-compliance during a check | Critical |
| EPIRB beacon (406 MHz) | Self-test and battery | Monthly self-test; battery replacement according to the manufacturer (5 to 10 years) | Silent beacon in a real distress situation | Critical |
| Portable fire extinguisher(s) | Pressure / charge | Visual check of the gauge before every trip; service according to the manufacturer, often annual | Extinguisher inoperative if a fire breaks out | Important |
| Special inspection registerAnnex 240-A.2 | Owner’s annual signature | Once a year, before the season | Document missing or out of date during a check on a charter | Important |
| Loan / charter declarationAnnex 240-A.6 | Period of validity (specified by the order of 21/05/2026) | At every charter or loan | Declaration lapsed: the vessel is considered to have no valid declaration on board | Important |
| Magnetic compass | Compensation / deviation card | Periodic check, deviation card before entering service | Wrong heading if the electronic systems fail | To watch |
Indicative summary: each manufacturer sets the exact service life of its equipment, usually shown on a label attached to the equipment itself — that label is authoritative, not this table. These deadlines are included with date fields in the on-board checklist below.
At sea, both the presence AND the validity of equipment are checked by the maritime gendarmerie, maritime affairs or customs. Equipment that is present but expired is treated as missing: the breach is an offence, punishable by a fine whose amount is set by the inspecting officer according to the scale in force at the time — not a fixed rate that this guide could announce in advance. Depending on the seriousness or number of breaches, the boat may also be detained until brought into compliance.
The last two revisions, point by point
The order of 11 October 2024 tightened six specific points. The order of 21 May 2026, currently in force, clarified three other subjects without changing the overall logic.
Kill cord compulsory
On tiller or remote-steered outboards and on PWCs. Attached to the helmsman (wrist, leg or PFD), not modifiable. A second kill cord must be accessible and known to the whole crew.
Art. 3 — order of 11/10/2024Standardised, graded PFDs
Classification aligned with standard NF EN ISO 12402 (levels 50 / 100 / 150). A selection guide by weight (annex 240-A.4) accompanies the text. Children ≤ 30 kg: level 100 compulsory, whatever the zone.
Art. 3, 14, 18 — order of 11/10/2024Magnetic compass
Waterproof, fixed, visible from the helm, independent of any power source, illuminated, class A or B and compensated — even if the boat has a GPS.
Art. 5 — order of 11/10/2024Harness and tether
In difficult sailing conditions, a permanent link to the deck via a jackline or attachment point is compulsory — not necessarily a dedicated piece of equipment.
Art. 6 — order of 11/10/2024VHF watch on channel 16
Every vessel fitted with a VHF, fixed or handheld, must maintain a permanent watch on channel 16, in addition to visual and auditory lookout (rule 5 of the COLREGs).
Art. 7 — order of 11/10/2024Loan / charter declaration
New annex 240-A.6: a model declaration signed by the renter or borrower and countersigned by the lessor or lender, to be kept on board and shown at any check.
Art. 19 & annex 240-A.6 — order of 11/10/2024Electric vs motorised boards
A clearer distinction between electrically assisted boards (French Surfing Federation) and motorised boards / e-foils (French Powerboating Federation), on the advice of the Central Safety Commission.
Order of 21/05/2026Loan / charter: framework clarified
The loan declaration provided neither a period of validity nor management of multiple drivers. The 2026 text now regulates these two points better, to protect both owner and renter.
Order of 21/05/2026Harmonised numbering
The amending orders of 2023 and 2024 had introduced numbering discrepancies with the 2019 text. The 2026 text corrects these inconsistencies, on the recommendation of the General Secretariat of the Government.
Order of 21/05/2026Traditional vessels — Division 244
A classic sailboat such as a pre-war ketch potentially falls under Division 244 (traditional pleasure vessels). Since 2024, this division has been simplified: the safety equipment required is now aligned with that of Division 240, and the rules on modifying the vessel require materials compatible with the original design.
For a classic vessel operated for charter, this point should be checked specifically before each season.
Division 240 on LOCVOILIER boats
At LOCVOILIER, Division 240 is not theory: it is the list we check before every departure from Port Corbières or Cassis. Every sailboat and catamaran in the fleet is equipped for the sailing zone it actually uses, and the safety equipment is checked on every return from a charter.
At key handover, for a charter without a skipper
During check-in, we go round the equipment with the skipper in charge: life jackets suited to each crew member’s weight, flares and rockets within date, fire extinguishers, VHF and jackline. The loan or charter declaration provided for in annex 240-A.6 is signed and kept on board, with the special inspection register. You leave with a compliant boat, and you know where every piece of equipment is.
On a skippered trip
When you come aboard for a full-day boat trip, the professional skipper is the skipper in charge. They give the safety instructions before casting off, hand out the life jackets and keep a watch on VHF channel 16 throughout. For commercial use with passengers, the boat also falls under Division 241.
Preparing your trip beyond the equipment
The best safety equipment does not replace good preparation: check the marine weather in Marseille, place the wind strength on the Beaufort scale and calculate your route with the port-to-port distance calculator, to know how many miles from a shelter you will be sailing.
The inspection checklist, to tick off live
Fill in the fields, choose the day’s sailing zone, tick off as you go round the boat, then print it to keep on board or file in the special inspection register.
Safety on board, in pictures
Division 240: your questions
What is Division 240?
It is the regulation annexed to the order of 23 November 1987 that sets the compulsory safety equipment on board pleasure vessels of 24 metres or less, for personal or training use, and their conditions of use.
What are the sailing zones of Division 240?
Four zones, according to the distance from a shelter: basic up to 2 miles, coastal from 2 to 6 miles, semi-offshore from 6 to 60 miles and offshore beyond 60 miles. Each set of equipment includes the equipment for the previous zone.
What is a shelter within the meaning of Division 240?
A place on the coast, or any craft, boat or vessel, where the crew can reach safety by anchoring, coming alongside or landing, and leave again without assistance. The notion takes account of the weather at the time and of the boat.
Does Division 240 apply to charter boats?
Yes. The charter company equips the boat, and the skipper in charge remains responsible for the equipment during the charter. Since 2024, a loan or charter declaration (annex 240-A.6), signed by both parties, must be kept on board.
Is expired equipment considered missing?
Yes. During a check at sea, an expired life jacket, flare or liferaft is treated as missing equipment. The breach is an offence and the boat may be detained until brought into compliance.
What changed with the order of 21 May 2026?
The text distinguishes more clearly between electric and motorised boards, clarifies the framework for loans and charters (period of validity, multiple drivers) and harmonises the numbering of articles. The logic of the four zones does not change.
Is a VHF required on board?
A fixed VHF becomes compulsory in the semi-offshore zone. Since 2024, every vessel fitted with a VHF, fixed or handheld, must keep a permanent watch on channel 16.
Check the full text of Division 240
This page is intended to be educational and practical for the LOCVOILIER team and customers. It does not replace the regulatory text in force, which alone is legally binding. If in doubt about a specific point, check the relevant article on Légifrance or mer.gouv.fr before equipping a vessel.
Charter an equipped, checked boat?
Sailboat or catamaran, with or without a skipper: our boats leave Port Corbières with safety equipment checked on every return.
Set the right course from the start!
