THE NEW ITALIAN REGISTER FOR PLEASURE YACHTS
Buying and Selling Yachts
Under the Italian Flag
Italy is widely recognised for its prestigious role in the yachting industry.
Its stunning coastlines and historic ports contribute to this reputation, and it’s no surprise that the country has many shipowners proudly flying the Italian flag.
A distinctive feature of the Italian maritime flag is the presence of the symbols of the four “Maritime Republics“: Venice, Genoa, Pisa, and Amalfi, ancient city-states that played a key role in Italy’s maritime history.
Their coats of arms reflect Italy’s rich naval heritage and its prestigious maritime past. The Republic of Venice is represented by the Lion of Saint Mark, while Genoa is symbolised by the Cross of Saint George; Amalfi has an octagonal cross on a blue background, and Pisa’s emblem features a white lobed cross on a red background.
Italian maritime legislation sets out a series of rules and tax obligations, compliance with which ensures a smooth and legally compliant transaction for the buyer of an Italian yacht.
Proper procedures guarantees a smooth transaction and provides the highest safety in international contexts
According to the Navigation Code, pleasure boats subject to registration are those with a hull length of 10 to 24 metres.
If the length exceeds 24 meters, the vessels are classified as pleasure ships (Navi da Diporto)
Pleasure craft are registered in a Central Electronic Archive of Pleasure Craft (ATCN), which has replaced the old RID (Italian Recreational Craft Registry).
According to the Italian Code, any pleasure craft with a hull length exceeding 24 meters is classified as a PLEASURE SHIP /NAVE, distinguishing between:
• Small Pleasure Ship: length exceeding 24 meters and gross tonnage up to 500 GT.
• Large Pleasure Ship: length exceeding 24 meters and gross tonnage exceeding 500 GT.
The licence plate for Italian vessels is alphanumeric, consisting of four letters and four digits.
The owner can choose the letters and numbers for the licence plate at initial registration.
The identification number is followed by the letter D for pleasure yachts under 24 metres in length, or by the abbreviation ND for larger vessels (Navi da Diporto).
The main titles for operating pleasure ships are:
Pleasure Craft Master, the highest title, Pleasure Craft Captain, and Pleasure Craft Navigation Officer for the deck. Pleasure Craft Chief Engineer for the technical department.
The documentation for a Pleasure Ship/ Nave da Diporto must include:
Yacht Certificate of Registry
Safety Certification;
Tonnage Certificate;
Builder Certificate: Statement of Construction or Origin
RTF Operating License
Crew List, Minimum Manning (required for both smaller and larger Ships /Navi da Diporto).
Professional qualifications of the captain and technical crew
Liability insurance policy (RC).
- Safety equipment compliant with the assigned navigation category and including life rafts with mandatory inspection every 2 years
THE PROCESS FOR SELLING AN ITALIAN-REGISTERED CRAFT, EITHER A SMALL OR A LARGE SHIP, INCLUDING THE CANCELLATION OF ITS ITALIAN FLAG, INVOLVES:
1 – REQUEST FOR NULLAOSTA
2 – SIGNING OF THE APPROPRIATE BILL/DEED OF SALE
3 – CREW DISEMBARKATION PROCEDURE AT THE LOCAL HARBOR OFFICE
4 – REGISTRATION OF THE BILL/DEED OF SALE AND TRANSCRIPTION AT THE REGISTRY OFFICE
5 – ISSUANCE OF THE FINAL CANCELLATION FROM THE ITALIAN REGISTERS
To SELL OR BUY a vessel flying the Italian flag that is planned to be cancelled, you must first, or typically upon the sale confirmation, submit a request for clearance (Nullaosta) to the Registration Office.
After verifying that there are no encumbrances, mortgages, or other restrictions preventing the sale, the Electronic Registry will issue the appropriate certificate called NULLAOSTA.
Pursuant to the law, the Sole Registrar (UCON) conducts the required legal verification and confirms that the crew’s social security contributions have been paid. The NULLAOSTA for the flag’s deletion must be issued within 30 days of receiving the request. The electronic archive has now significantly accelerated response times.
DEED OF SALE – The Deed or Bill of sale can only be signed after receiving the NULLAOSTA.
For vessels registered at less than 24 meters, a unilateral declaration of sale signed with a certified signature is sufficient. However, for small or large “Navi da Diporto” (pleasure boats), a bilateral notarial deed must be signed by both the seller and the buyer.
Both types of sale deeds for an Italian vessel must be registered with the Revenue Agency. If the seller is a private individual, a sale registration fee based on the vessel’s length applies as follows:
– €607 for vessels between 8.01 and 12 meters
– €809 for vessels between 12.01 and 18 meters
– €1,011 for vessels between 18.01 and 24 meters
– €5,055 for vessels over 24 meters
For sellers who are companies (with a VAT code), a flat registration fee of €200 is applicable.
The crew list is the official document issued by the Port Authority that certifies the presence and composition of the crew on board a pleasure craft or pleasure vessel.
The crew list details must be documented in the Central Telematic Archive of Recreational Boating (ATCN) and on the Yacht Certificate.
CREW ENROLLMENT contracts, which are mandatory for Italian pleasure ships Navi da Diporto (over 24 m)—even for private use—must be formally completed with the sale.
The disembarkation of the crew must be registered with the Port Authority or the competent maritime authority, and the termination of the employment relationship must be noted on the ship’s crew list.
It is essential to coordinate the disembarkation date with the vessel’s delivery date and the transfer of ownership to avoid overlapping responsibilities.
The DEFINITIVE CANCELLATION occurs only when the registry office that has already issued the Nullaosta receives the deed of sale duly registered with the Revenue Agency.
If the Registry Office receives the Deed of Sale without having previously issued the Nullaosta, it will impose a penalty on the seller. It will still verify the crew’s contributions, thereby blocking the issuance of the definitive cancellation certificate.
The seller’s and vessel’s details (name, registration number, length, engine) will be checked for compliance, and the sale tax, calculated based on the vessel’s length, will be confirmed.
In conclusion, we can state that the process of buying and selling a vessel registered in Italy is carefully overseen and regulated by the appropriate authorities.
The strict regulations governing Italian pleasure vessels require that all boats have a “no objection to the sale” (Nullaosta) and that the crew be registered with the port authority, thereby ensuring the high security of any transactions. As a result, many documents that are typically required internationally, such as the Title Extract or personal declarations from the parties involved, become unnecessary and redundant.
OCCASIONAL YACHT CHARTER WITH ITALIAN FLAG –
With the exception of the frequency of the first renewal of the safety certificate, the rules established for Italian pleasure ships over 24 m in length, for both private and commercial use, are similar.
To promote nautical tourism, owners of pleasure craft flying the Italian flag, whether individuals or companies not specialists in yacht charter, including users under financial leasing, can offer occasional yacht charter.
Occasional charters are permitted exclusively to all pleasure craft and over 24m “navi da diporto” enrolled in national registries.
These occasional charters do not constitute “commercial use of the vessel” and cannot exceed 42 days per year. Income generated from this activity is subject to a flat 20% tax rate.
This choice, in any case, excludes the deductibility or tax relief of costs and expenses incurred in the rental activity.
Operating vessels for this purpose requires holding the necessary professional maritime qualification.
