What changes in the buying and selling of a vessel registered abroad
In recent years, many Italian boat owners have chosen to register their boats under a foreign flag. Belgian, Dutch, French, Polish, Slovenian flags: often legitimate choices made to simplify certain procedures, reduce costs, or avoid specific bureaucratic steps.
However, today there is a new development that deserves attention.
Law No. 70 of 7 May 2026, dedicated to enhancing marine resources, has introduced changes to the Pleasure Craft Code. Among these, one concerns certain pleasure craft up to 24 metres with foreign flags that navigate or remain in Italian waters. The regulation was published in the Official Gazette No. 106 on 9 May 2026 and is in effect from 10 May 2026.
The topic is delicate, but it is not a cause for panic. As often happens in boating, the point is not to be frightened by the rule: the point is to understand whether it really concerns your boat and, if so, what concrete actions to take.
The new provision applies to pleasure craft up to 24 metres flying a foreign flag that navigate or remain:
The regulation applies when these vessels are owned by:
In other words, if a boat up to 24 metres has a foreign flag, is owned by an Italian resident in Italy or an Italian company, and is used or kept in Italian waters, it is advisable to carefully check your documentation status. The text indeed introduces the obligation to demonstrate the vessel's seaworthiness.
Simply put: it must be possible to demonstrate that the boat is in adequate condition for navigation, without posing a risk to navigation safety and the marine environment.
The regulation provides for two possible paths.
In practice, the mechanism closely resembles a logic similar to that of a safety certificate: a periodic technical check to certify that the vessel is suitable for navigation.
Anyone owning a foreign-flagged boat should proceed in an orderly manner, avoiding both alarmism and improvisation.
The first step is to verify whether the boat truly falls within the scope of the regulation: length up to 24 metres, foreign flag, Italian ownership or company based in Italy, navigation or mooring in Italian waters.
The second step is to check what certifications are required by the flag state. Not all flags operate in the same way, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
The third step is to determine whether the available documentation is sufficient or if, in the absence of equivalent certifications, it is necessary to schedule an inspection with a notified technical body.
The fourth step, often the most important, is to take this opportunity to organise the entire boat file: licence, insurance, safety equipment, technical documentation, CE marking, declarations, certificates, any ownership transfers, deadlines, and everything that may become relevant in case of inspection, sale, or purchase.
Because a boat is not just made of fibreglass, engines, and beautiful days at anchor. A boat is also made of documents.
The issue is not just bureaucratic.
When the time comes to sell a boat, the documents can either accelerate the process or act as a handbrake.
Over the years, we have seen beautiful boats, well-maintained, perfectly photographed, with serviced engines and impeccable interiors. Then, during negotiations, a missing document, a discrepancy, an outdated certificate, or an old flag choice that seemed convenient suddenly becomes a small labyrinth.
Often the boat is perfect. The problem is not the boat. The problem is documentation.
And in the face of uncertainty, the buyer slows down. The surveyor asks for clarifications. The bank wants confirmations. The negotiation drags on. And when a negotiation drags on too long, sometimes it falls through.
That’s why a boat with organised, clear, and consistent documents is easier to sell, more readable for the buyer, and more reassuring for all parties involved in the transaction.
In a negotiation, trust matters. And having documents in order helps to build it.
The answer depends on the individual case, but the question is more relevant than ever today.
In the past, many boat owners chose a foreign flag to simplify certain procedures. In many cases, these were legitimate and understandable choices. However, if a foreign-flagged boat must also periodically demonstrate its seaworthiness, the practical advantage of some solutions may diminish.
So it is worth asking: does it still make sense to remain under a foreign flag?
For many boat owners, returning to the Italian flag could become a choice worth considering seriously. Not only for a matter of belonging or the pleasure of seeing the tricolour at the stern, but also for a very concrete reason: a boat with well-maintained Italian documents can be easier to manage, simpler to read, and, in some cases, easier to sell.
Of course, each situation must be evaluated individually. But if you use the boat in Italy, are an Italian owner, and are entering a logic of periodic control, the Italian flag can once again be a choice of order, transparency, and resale value.
This new development should not necessarily be seen as yet another complication. It can also be a useful opportunity to bring order.
No panic. No chaotic rush. No bureaucratic terrorism.
The right thing to do is to check your position, understand if the regulation applies to your vessel, review the certifications required by the flag state, and, if necessary, schedule a technical visit.
Above all, this is the right time to take a closer look at your boat's documentation. Because a secure transaction does not begin on the day of signing. It starts earlier: with the verification of documents, the correct reading of regulations, and the ability to anticipate problems before they become obstacles.
Abayachting assists owners, buyers, and sellers every day in the buying and selling of sailing and motor boats. This is why we understand how important the documentation aspect is, especially when a boat has a foreign flag or when considering a sale, purchase, or change of registration.
If you have a boat with a foreign flag and want to understand if the new regulation also applies to your vessel, we can help you correctly interpret the documentation situation and calmly evaluate possible future choices.
To delve deeper into the topic, watch the video we created on our YouTube channel:
For more information, you can write to us at info@abayachting.com or call us at 011 2457841.
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