Perhaps you are departing from the shores of your region to reach Liguria, to visit Genoa mooring at our Marina Porto Antico tourist port. Or perhaps, who knows, maybe your boat is already moored here, in our marina. In all cases, you have had a doubt: what are the mandatory documents on board, which must necessarily be on board before casting off? We want to make sure you don’t incur any violation of the Navigation Code, with the consequent penalties: it’s better therefore to take a look at this checklist, divided between mandatory documents for small craft and mandatory documents for vessels!

Mandatory documents on board: the list for small craft

• Identity document: let’s start with something easy, but not too trivial. All persons on board your boat must present their identity documents, which must be shown in case of inspection by the competent authorities.
• Boating license: as is known, a boating license is mandatory in all cases where navigation occurs beyond 12 miles from the coast, or to operate vessels with engines over 40.8 horsepower, or with engines with displacement exceeding 750 cc (in the case of two-stroke injection) or exceeding 1,000 cc (in the case of direct injection or four-stroke outboard carburation).
• Document certifying engine power: as required by former article 28 of the Navigation Code.
• Unit type approval certificate and declaration of conformity: these are necessary to potentially demonstrate authorization for navigation beyond 6 miles from the coast.
• Insurance: small craft are not required to have insurance, a policy that however must be present for all propulsion systems above 3 horsepower. It is therefore understood that small craft liability insurance also becomes practically mandatory.

Mandatory documents on board: the list for vessels

• Navigation license: all vessels, unlike small craft, must be registered in the Pleasure Craft Register.
• Engine power declaration: this document, starting from 2005, replaced the previous engine use certificate.
• Boat liability insurance: insurance becomes mandatory – for the boat, no longer for the engine – when dealing with vessels, always and in any case with coverage equal to or exceeding 2.5 million euros for personal injury, and equal to half a million euros for property damage.
• Safety certificate: this is the certificate issued at the time of registration and must be renewed every 8 or 10 years (depending on the boat category).
• RTF license and RTF Certificate: the presence of a VHF radio on vessels can be taken for granted (which is not taken for granted, but recommended, in the case of small craft). For their use, both documents are necessary, together with a copy of the VHF radio liability assumption declaration.

These are the mandatory documents on board, to always have on board when leaving a mooring. It should be noted that in the case of navigation in international waters other documents might be necessary; however, obligations change from state to state, and it is therefore worthwhile to inquire at the consulate before departure to be certain of complying with all applicable regulations. Those intending to navigate outside the European Union should also contact the Maritime Border Police Office and request completion of the document for navigation in international waters, which will include boat data, passenger information, and itinerary.

Do you have all the necessary documents? Then all that remains is to depart: we await you at the Marina Porto Antico tourist port in Genoa, to visit our city and discover the beauties of the Ligurian coast!