Boating in Italy, with the right rules

The rules of the sea change, and many pages online are out of date. Here we explain them in a few words, with the laws and ordinances behind them and the date we checked them.

Last checked: October 16, 2026

• Boating without a licenseHow far you can go, what engine, what age: the 2026 rules.
• Palermo distance and speed limitsSwimming zone, launch corridors, speed limits, harbors and divers: the 2026 ordinance.
• Capo Gallo Marine Protected AreaZones, speed limits, buoys to book and what you can’t do.
• Safety equipmentLife jackets, rockets, life raft, VHF: the current table for each distance band.

The guides summarize the rules and do not replace the official texts or the ordinances of the Harbor Office (Capitaneria di porto) for the area where you are boating. For emergencies at sea call 1530 (or 112).