ENG1 renewal in Antibes — anyone got an appointment recently?

Mine lapses in six weeks and every approved doctor I've called in Antibes and Nice is booked three weeks out. Two questions: 1. Is there anywhere with actual availability on the Riviera right now? 2. Does anyone know if a boat will take you on with an ENG1 that expires mid-contract, on the promise you'll renew? Would rather sort it than find out the hard way.

Three weeks is normal in season, and it gets worse in April and May. Book it now for whenever they can take you, and if something comes up sooner you can move it. On your second question — no boat I've worked on would sign someone whose ENG1 expires mid-contract. It's a manning requirement, not a nice-to-have. The captain would be the one explaining it to a port state inspector.

Seconding that. As a captain I'd hire you with six weeks left only if you had a booked appointment I could see. Bring the confirmation email to the interview and it stops being a problem. Also worth knowing: if you're flexible, some of the doctors further along the coast towards Toulon have much shorter queues than Antibes.

I got mine done in Palma in four days when Antibes was full. Flight was €60. Sometimes that maths works out.