The arrival of boats without a freshwater marine license is making waves in Boulogne-Billancourt

It’s not neighbors’ day Boulogne-Billancourt. While Freshwater sailor announced its imminent arrival in this town of Hauts-de-Seine, the surrounding nautical clubs do not welcome the news with joy. In question: the rental company boats without a license already maintains difficult relationships with the clubs of Levallois-Perret, where it has already had a nautical base for a year.

Collisions in Levallois

Created in 2014, Marin d’eau Douce offers hourly boat rentals. A service, popular with lovers looking for a romantic getaway and taken by storm on sunny days by families and groups of friends.

“Their arrival created a lot of nuisance for the city’s two major clubs, the Basse Seine Nautical Society and the Cercle Nautique de France. The people who drive the boats do not have a license and can be alcoholic, which leads to collisions”, reports Pedro Ferreira, president of Boulogne 92, the largest rowing club in France.

On the water as on the road, driving under the influence of alcohol is prohibited. “But the river brigade has other things to do. There are not many controls,” he laments.

The river too narrow

Not everything is to be blamed on the leisure business. There configuration of the premises, with a very narrow arm at the level of the island of Puteaux, would play a part there. “At their base in Meaux, there is more space and the cohabitation between the clubs and Marin d’eaufresh is going very well,” recognizes Pedro Ferreira.

Except that in Boulogne-Billancourt, the space is closer to that of Levallois than to that of Meaux. “In some places, the river arm is only 8.4 meters wide. We don’t even go there with our boats, but the kayak club could be bothered,” he continues. In total, five clubs already share the Boulogne nautical base, at the Saint-Cloud national domain.

Alcohol ban

In response, Marin d’eau fraîche has implemented, from June 2023, the abolition of the sale of alcohol and banning portable speakers. “But nothing stops people from bringing their own bottles,” puts Pedro Ferreira into perspective. Security boats are also deployed throughout the route to ensure surveillance.

So many measures which will also apply to the Boulogne base, “as soon as it opens”, assures Marin d’eau freshe toParis news. “I have already met the CEO of the company at the base. He took careful note of all our remarks,” acknowledges the club president. In the meantime, he keeps the number carefully, ready to report any neighborhood problems.

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