Maritime Gendarmerie

The Maritime Gendarmerie (French: Gendarmerie maritime) is a part of the French National Gendarmerie. It is led by the chief of staff of the French Navy. This group has about 1,157 people who work with around thirty patrol boats and fast motorboats along the coast of France.

These men and women are soldiers, just like those who work on land. They help keep things safe and also act as a coast guard. In addition to their coast guard work, they also have special jobs helping to organize things inside the French Navy, called provost duties.

Their uniforms and signs look much like those worn by the French Navy. But, they use the same ranks as other parts of the Gendarmerie, which are the same as the old ranks of the French Cavalry.

Mission

The Maritime Gendarmerie helps keep the waters safe and performs police duties in France's coastal areas and exclusive economic zone, guided by the maritime prefect. They also assist with criminal investigations under the direction of public prosecutors, protect naval shore facilities, and take part in search and rescue operations.

Organisation

The Maritime Gendarmerie is led by a colonel based in Paris. It is split into three groups, seven companies, and 64 units spread across France.

In mainland France, there are groups along the English Channel and North Sea in Cherbourg, along the Atlantic in Brest, and along the Mediterranean in Toulon. There is also a company in Paris and a training center in Toulon.

Overseas, there are patrol boats and units in Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Mayotte, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia.

Personnel

The Maritime Gendarmerie hires people with different levels of education. Leaders need a master’s degree, others need a high school diploma, and some jobs don’t need special education. They look for people who have already worked a few years in general gendarmerie service. Knowing how to navigate on water and having scuba diving training helps people join. Inside the Maritime Gendarmerie, there are special jobs like boat driver, mechanic, diver, and security officer.

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1
Maritime Gendarmerie
Rank title									Général de brigade		Colonel		Lieutenant-Colonel		Chef d'Escadron		Capitaine		Lieutenant

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Maritime Gendarmerie
Rank title	Major			Adjudant-chef			Adjudant				Maréchal des Logis-Chef						Gendarme				Élève Sous-officer	Gendarme Adjoint Maréchal-des-logis	Gendarme Adjoint brigadier-chef				Gendarme Adjoint brigadier		Gendarme Adjoint première classe						Gendarme Adjoint deuxième classe

Patrol boats

Class	Picture	Type	Boat	Displacement	Note
PCG-NG class		Patrol boat	P727 Rozel P728 Beuzeval	350 tonnes	P727 based in Cherbourg, joined by P-728 (temporarily assigned to the navy); up to four more vessels planned to replace Géranium and Jonquille classes between 2026 and 2029
Géranium class		Patrol boat	P719 Armoise P720 Géranium P722 Violette	100 tonnes	P719 based in Cherbourg is former Directorate for Maritime Affairs vessel pending arrival of PCG-NG boats starting 2025 P720 based in Lorient; P722 in Pointe à Pitre
Jonquille class		Patrol boat	P721 Jonquille P723 Jasmin	98 tonnes	P721 based in Toulon; P723 in Papeete
Maroni class		Patrol boat	P692 Maroni P693 Oyapock P694 Aber Ildut	72.5 tonnes	Based in English Channel/North Sea region: Cherbourg, Dunkirk and Boulogne-sur-Mer
Elorn class		Patrol craft	P601 Elorn P602 Verdon P603 Adour P604 Scarpe P605 Vertonne P606 Dumbéa P607 Yser P608 Argens P609 Hérault P610 Gravona P611 Odet P612 Maury P613 Charente P614 Tech P615 Penfeld P616 Trieux P617 Vésubie P618 Escaut P619 Huveaune P620 Sèvre P621 Aber Wrac'h P622 Esteron P623 Mahury P624 Organabo	41 tonnes	As of 2023: 11 units reported based in the Atlantic/English Channel/North Sea region; 7 in the Mediterranean; 2 in French Guiana; 2 in Mayotte; 1 in New Caledonia (one vessel - Mahury, P623 - reported unserviceable as of late 2022; Odet and Verdon - P602 & P611 - reportedly damaged "beyond repair" in Mayotte by Cyclone Chido in December 2024; replaced by P603 Adour in early 2025)
Pavois class		Patrol craft	P692 Pavois P693 Ecu P964 Rondache P695 Harnois P696 Haubert P697 Heaume P698 Brigantine P699 Gantelet	10.2 tonnes	All boats in service since 2011; reported based in: Le Havre (2 units), Port de Bouc (2 units), Marseille, Cherbourg, Brest and Toulon
Armet class		Training vessel	P801 Armet	17.2 tonnes	Assigned to the maritime gendarmerie training center in Toulon