The task of local coordination of the exercise of national maritime responsibilities (action de l’Etat en mer–‘AEM’), which in mainland France falls to the Préfet Maritime, is one that overseas is assigned to the Government Delegates (‘DDG’). Although they have similar duties, and despite the challenges posed by major national maritime involvement, the DDGs do not have the same structures as the Préfets Maritimes to help them fulfil their roles. A recent change in the law (the decree dated 6 December 2005) has done nothing to bridge this gap. The overseas organisation has, however, seen some significant developments: greater weight is now given to the joint-service command structure and the increased participation of defence resources in AEM tasks, and the senior armed forces commander becomes adviser to the DDG whenever the use of defence assets is involved. The generally simple nature of the system is, however, retained with COMAR (the maritime zone commander), keeping his role as assistant to the DDG. New structural changes are nevertheless essential to improve the coordination that is fundamental to the exercise of national maritime responsibilities overseas.
