Documents on board and compulsory insurance
1The lesson in plain words
Registered boats carry a navigation licence and safety certificate. Every boat with an engine, even a small natante, must be insured.
Registered boats
An imbarcazione or nave carries her licenza di navigazione (navigation licence, issued on entry in the ATCN) and her certificato di sicurezza (safety certificate). If an outboard is fitted, carry its engine power declaration. If a radio is fitted, carry its station licence. Carry the insurance certificate too.
Natanti
A motor-powered natante carries the declaration of engine power (dichiarazione di potenza) and insurance certificate. Any natante with a radio fitted carries its radio station licence. To prove ownership and nationality abroad, an Italian natante may carry its construction or import declaration plus a sworn self-declaration on the ministry's model.
Insurance is compulsory
Third-party insurance (RC) covers injury or damage you cause to others. It is compulsory for every pleasure craft with an inboard, sterndrive or outboard engine, whatever its power. Only rowing boats and sailing boats with no engine are exempt. A detachable outboard must be insured even when stowed in a locker or used on a tender. You need not display a sticker, but you must show proof of insurance when checked.
Originals or copies
Between Italian ports, you may carry certified copies of the papers. Abroad, carry originals. For a private, unpaid loan, carry the owner's written permission. Check the destination's requirements before going abroad.
Checks at sea
The Guardia Costiera, Guardia di Finanza, Polizia and Carabinieri may stop you. They check papers, the licence, the safety kit, the number of people and your distance limit. A clean check may earn the bollino blu sticker for the season, which helps avoid repeat checks of the same items.
2Key data
- Imbarcazione papers
- Licenza di navigazione, certificato di sicurezza, insurance
- Natante papers
- Engine: power declaration + insurance; radio fitted: station licence
- Insurance
- Compulsory for any boat with an engine, any power
- Copies
- Certified copies between Italian ports; originals abroad
- Bollino blu
- Seasonal sticker after a clean check
3Key points
- 1
Registered boats: navigation licence and safety certificate on board.
- 2
Motor-powered natanti: engine power declaration and insurance; radio station licence if a radio is fitted.
- 3
Every motor-powered pleasure craft must have third-party insurance, whatever the power.
- 4
Insure a detachable outboard even when it is stowed.
- 5
Certified copies between Italian ports; originals abroad.
4Frequent mistakes
Wrong: A small 4 hp outboard on a dinghy needs no insurance.
Right: Insurance is compulsory for every boat with an engine, whatever its power, and for detachable outboards even when stowed.
Wrong: A natante needs no papers at all.
Right: Motor-powered natanti carry the engine power declaration and insurance certificate. Any natante with a radio fitted carries its radio station licence. No registration is needed.
5Practice case & exam keys
A friend lends you his 6 m natante with a 40 hp outboard for a week in Sardinia, then you plan a day trip to Corsica (France). He gives you photocopies of the papers. What do you need?
Show the answer
Ordinary photocopies are not certified copies. Get originals or certified copies for the Italian leg: engine power declaration, insurance certificate and radio station licence if fitted. For France, take originals, the construction or import declaration, and a sworn statement using the ministry's form to prove ownership and nationality. Carry your friend's written permission and confirm insurance cover in French waters.
Exam keys
- Imbarcazione/nave: licenza di navigazione + certificato di sicurezza.
- Motor-powered natanti: engine power declaration + insurance; radio station licence if a radio is fitted.
- RC insurance compulsory for all motor-powered units; unpowered sail and rowing exempt.
- Certified copies between Italian ports; originals abroad.
Finish this unit
When you've read it, answer three questions. Get all three right to finish the unit; opening the page alone doesn't count.
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