It's a big risk not to comply with the regulations regarding onboard equipment. If you lack it, the fine is hefty: it can exceed 1,000 euros. But certainly the fine is a lesser evil compared to finding yourself managing without adequate safety equipment and signaling in unexpected and dangerous situations, risking your life and that of your travel companions. The safety kit is therefore mandatory (and increases with distance from the coast) but it is not enough for truly safe navigation: it is recommended to also equip yourself with other localization tools, as well as consumption monitoring devices.
Boat safety equipment: what changes in 2025
The new Implementation Regulation of the Boating Code, effective from October 21, 2024 (and thus to be respected by typical boaters starting from the 2025 boating season) has brought many updates and changes also in the field of mandatory safety equipment: boaters are therefore called to give a general check to their safety kit. Here is the link to the Official Gazette No. 222. It should be noted that, alongside some new equipment, some welcome simplifications have also been introduced (especially for navigation beyond 12 miles, but not only). It is important to note right away that some of the new safety measures for boats have come into immediate effect, while others will come into effect one year after the publication of the new Implementation Regulation, thus from the end of the 2025 boating season.
Let’s take a detailed look at the list of mandatory safety equipment for boats based on the navigation distance from the coast.
Onboard equipment: a note on excise duties and taxes
Until 2016, onboard equipment was considered export products. For customs purposes, since June 2016, the equipment is no longer considered as such and is exempt, based on reciprocity between states, from all types of customs duties, excise duties, and taxes, although customs formalities must still be respected.
Mandatory onboard equipment within 3 miles
The list of safety equipment at this distance from the coast is not long, including only the bare minimum to guarantee maximum safety for people on board. It is also worth highlighting that the safety kit for navigation within 3 miles was not affected by the 2025 changes. It includes:
- 1 life jacket for each passenger of 100N, with automatic light and identification system, CE approved according to new ISO standards;
- 1 lifebuoy with rope;
- 1 smoke buoy; regulatory navigation lights;
- 2 red hand flares;
- 1 sound signaling device, meaning at least a gas horn, while for units over 12 meters a bell or other portable sound device is mandatory. What features? A signal intensity above 100 dB at one meter distance.
- 1 pump or other bilge equipment and fire extinguishers for boats without "CE" marking.
Onboard equipment within 6 miles
For navigation within 6 miles, 3 more items must be added: 1 light buoy with lifebuoy, a second smoke buoy, 2 red parachute flares, and a black anchor ball for units over 7 meters (this last one is an obligation introduced starting from 2025).
Onboard equipment within 12 miles
The set of components forming the safety equipment kit for navigation within 12 miles is decidedly richer: several interesting modifications have been made for 2025. The lifebuoy with rope and life jacket for each person on board remain mandatory. However, it should be noted that starting in 2025, all life jackets for navigation within 12 miles (at least category 100) must be equipped with a mounted and functioning automatic activation light; additionally, it is mandatory to indicate on the life jackets a reference to the boat of origin.
Also included are:
- 1 light buoy
- 2 smoke buoys plus
- 1 compass, naturally functioning (also in electronic form)
- 1 deviation table conforming to the Maritime Authority (only for pleasure boats)
- 2 red hand flares,
- 2 red parachute flares,
- regulatory navigation lights
- sound signaling or, for boats over 12 meters, whistle and bell (or portable sound device).
- Also indispensable is the VHF radio with license and authorized operator with certificate.
With the 2025 Regulation, it has also been introduced the obligation, as well as the permission, for those navigating within 12 miles to replace hand flares with LED devices compliant with Solas Med standards in accordance with IMO regulations. Other novelties include the obligation to have on board the Day and night visual signals table (Colreg) and, for sailing boats only, the obligation to have on board at least one harness with umbilical safety strap.
Since 16/01/2016 the rule making the first aid kit mandatory has been in force. The list closes for non-"CE" marked units with a pump or other bilge equipment and fire extinguishers or fire-fighting means. What is meant by regulatory navigation lights? For daytime navigation up to 12 miles, at least one white light torch with batteries is mandatory.
There is also the issue of the liferaft, mandatory in its coastal version for navigation within 12 miles, with enough seats for all people on board. But be careful: starting from 2025, rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) are exempt from the obligation to carry the coastal liferaft within 12 miles, but must instead have on board the survival kit normally provided with the rafts themselves, as well as an additional fire extinguisher.
Another 2025 novelty allows replacing the mandatory coastal liferaft with a CE marked tender, provided it is large enough and ready for use, thus always inflated and ready to be launched, and equipped with a boarding device.
Onboard equipment within 12 miles: the cost
How much does it cost to comply with the onboard equipment safety regulations? Kits vary depending on the distance from the coast and the different assortments determine very different prices. There are complete kits for distances within 3 and 6 miles that can be purchased for between 100 and 200 euros, while for navigation within 12 miles costs increase: consider that the smallest coastal liferafts can cost more than 600 euros. Onboard equipment must be not only well functioning and efficient but also offer minimal bulk and be easy to carry in waterproof and durable bags.
For those who want to deepen the topic, it is advisable to consult the official website of the Coast Guard.