French Permanent Representation to IMO
Organization Chart
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of France to IMO, Odile Roussel
Deputy Permanent Representative of France to IMO: Eric Berder
Deputy Permanent Representative of France to IMO: Charles-Henri de Barsac
Assistant: Laëtitia Lecocq
Role
The French Permanent Representation to IMO, which reports to the Foreign Ministry, is responsible for defending and promoting civil maritime activities which, in France, are principally the responsibility of the Ministry for Transport, Capital Works, Tourism and Marine Affairs and, at interministerial level, of the Secretariat-General for Marine Activities (Prime Minister’s Office). It liaises with the other French ministries covering maritime affairs, with responsibility for fisheries, finance, industry and the environment.
- Security and maritime safety (ships, navigation, ports) - Protection of the marine environment - Navigation police, events at sea (accidents, pollution) - Seafarers (trade and fisheries professionals): training, labour law - Bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the maritime sector - Sea fisheries police - Maritime law - Pleasure sailing
On economic matters to do with shipping and ports, it works with the Embassy’s Commercial and Finance Section, and on sea fishery-related issues with the Agricultural Attaché. On other specific maritime issues (in particular those concerning defence, customs, police and social matters), it liaises with the Embassy’s other specialist counsellors.
The Ambassador is also France’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency specializing in maritime activities, which has its headquarters in London.
He also participates in the work of the IOPCF (International oil pollution compensation fund) based in London.
Contact
6 Cromwell place (2nd floor)
London SW7 2JN
Courriel : imofrance.maritime ambafrance.org.uk
Tel: 00 44 20 7073 1393
Fax: 0044 20 7073 1384
French Permanent Representation to IMO: Useful links
French websites
www.mer.equipement.gouv.fr (Minister for Transport, Capital Works, Tourism and Marine Affairs)
www.armateursdefrance.org (Professional French organisation of French transport companies and French maritime services)
www.le-cedre.fr (Centre of documentation, research and experimentation on accidental water pollution)
www.ifremer.fr/francais (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea)
ifm.free.fr (French Institute of the Sea)
www.vnf.fr (Voies navigables de France - Navigable Ways of France)
www.shom.fr (French Navy’s hydrography and oceanography department )
www.pilotes-maritimes.fr (French maritime pilot federation)
Britain websites
www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_shipping/documents/sectionhomepage/dft_shipping_page.hcsp (Department for Transport)
http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga-home (Maritime and Coastguard Agency)
www.maib.gov.uk/home/index.cfm (Marine Accidents Investigation Board)
www.mfa.gov.uk (Marine Fisheries Agency)
Sites internationaux :
www.imo.org (International Maritime Organization)
fr.iopcfund.org IOPC Funds)