French Riviera Berth for Sale

Published March 25, 2025 by Remi van der Deure

How long does it take to secure a berth on the French Riviera?

Buying a yacht may be complicated, but finding a prime berth on the French Riviera, between Monaco and Saint-Tropez, is even more difficult. 

Unlike in Italy, there are few new marinas in France and yacht owners highly desire such spaces in these prime areas. 

Yacht berth rental: the long haul process

Applicants should expect a 5-to-10-year waiting period for a 50 foot yacht; therefore, we primarily focus on berth sales.

Buying a berth for your yacht

Acquiring a marina berth requires navigating complex lease regulations (‘amodiation’ in French), understanding regional best practices, and managing various administrative procedures.

We are available to provide guidance.

Leveraging our extensive local network and partnerships, Awesome Yacht excels at securing berths under optimal conditions in premier locations such as:

• Cap d’Ail,
• Antibes Port Vauban,
• Port Gallice in Juan-les-Pins,
• Mandelieu-la-Napoule,
• Mandelieu la Rague
• and Saint-Raphaël Santa Lucia.

What is an “amodiation”?

An amodiation is a long-term lease for a yacht berth, typical in the Mediterranean. It’sa paid lease, not ownership, providing rights to use something for a specific time.

Users for a chunk, often with annual fees, for the right to occupy a specific berth within a port.

How long are yacht berth agreements (amodiation) in France?

It is hard to give a precise “average duration” for berth “amodiation” in France. Every port in France, no matter small local port or large commercial port, has its own rules and regulations concerning berth allocation. 

Lease agreements on berths have long been negotiated at ports, they can be for decades at berths in ports (the duration of which will be strongly dependent on the port location (Mediterranean versus Atlantic coast) and on other types of agreements).

Termination date of the concession agreement (ie amodiation) at the primary ports of the French Riviera:

• December 2031: Antibes port Vauban
• December 2029: Mandelieu la Napoule
• Cap d’Ail: December 2026
• Saint Laurent du Var: December 2025

What happen if I want to sell my berth under amodiation?

Amodiations are eligible marketable, transferring outstanding usage detail. Port authority approval is usually required, and fees may be charged, however. 

The resale value will depend on how many years of the contract remain (each port have a different amodiation duration), where the boat is berthed, and general market conditions.

It’s a transfer of contractual rights, not land ownership, and requires deliberate legal scrutiny.

Disclaimer: Information regarding vessels’s specifications, berth detail, operating characteristics, and condition is provided in good faith for informational purposes only. While every effort is made to obtain data from reliable sources, its accuracy is not guaranteed by Awesome-yacht.com.

Contact us to discuss your specific needs.

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