Waterways

Rivers

Paris area

For the Canal St. Martin, the Canal de l’Ourcq and the Canal Saint Denis, the Port de l’Arsenal, filming permits are issued by Paris Film.

Seine

Filming on the Seine within the Paris city limits is handled by the Subdivision de la Navigation. For the Seine outside city limits and in the provinces, 4 main administrative services issue permits: the districts of Seine-Amont, Basse-Seine, Picardie and Champagne.

For shoots on major rivers (the Loire, the Marne, the Rhône, the Saône, etc.) and canals, permits are issued by the Voies Navigables de France (VNF).

Other rivers and watercourse

To shoot on a tributary or other watercourse (except navigable rivers, as mentioned above) contact the Mission Interservices de l’Eau (MISE) of the concerned county. For a list with addresses and phone/fax numbers, email, contact Film France.

Pour tourner sur un plan d’eau ou une rivière (sauf voies fluviales), contacter la Mission Interservices de l’Eau et de la Nature (MISEN) du département concerné (adresses auprès des préfectures ou en ligne).

If the river is:

within a state forest, contact the Office National des Forêts (national forest office);
outside a forest, contact the local mayor’s office;
within a private forest, contact the owner.

Ports

To film in an autonomous port, or in one of the state administered ports, contact the administrators
of the site. For other ports, contact Film France network.

There are 3 categories of French seaports:

Autonomous ports (10): State-owned public establishments handling 80% of port traffic by tonnage.

Ports of national interest (25): Their commercial and technical operation is delegated to the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI).

Decentralised ports (500): Commercial and fishing ports (300) depend on the département and the Chambers of Commerce and Industry; and marinas (200) depend on the municipalities for their management and organisation.