Legal frame
Governing: D.M. 121/2005 arts 4–8 as rewritten by D.M. 227/2023 (applies from 5 May 2024); Codice art. 36-bis; D.D. 40/2025. Builds on: L1.2.
The four rungs
| Title | STCW | May serve as | Main entry route |
|---|---|---|---|
| UND di 2ª classe | No | Master of Italian-flag imbarcazioni, navi and RI charter ships ≤200 GT, Mediterranean or inland waters, charter included | Age 18, courses, national exam |
| Ufficiale di navigazione del diporto (UND) | II/1 | OOW on yachts up to 3000 GT; master of navi <500 GT; master of all imbarcazioni | Cadet sea time, courses, A-II/1 exam |
| Capitano del diporto | II/2 <3000 GT | Chief mate, no GT limit; master of navi ≤3000 GT | UND + 12 months as OOW, management courses, A-II/2 exam |
| Comandante del diporto | II/2 | Master, no GT limit | Capitano + 24 months as chief mate on yachts ≥500 GT + Medical Care |
UND 2ª classe: the entry title
Created by Codice art. 36-bis and D.M. 121 art. 4-bis, this is the only diporto title with a published national exam (D.D. 40/2025). Requirements (art. 4-bis(2)):
- age 18 and a secondary-school diploma (or recognised foreign equivalent);
- the SRC radio certificate;
- basic fire-fighting and First Aid;
- survival (PST) and PSSR, or an offshore personal-safety course;
- the patente B medical standard and the moral requirements of D.M. 146;
- a theory and practical exam.
It does not expire, but lapses if the training certificates lapse (D.D. 40/2025 art. 7). Holders of a patente B, of merchant or diporto deck CoCs, or of a foreign STCW CoC with an Italian consular endorsement who reside in Italy, get it without exam (D.D. 40/2025 art. 6). The exam itself is covered in UND 2ª classe prep.
Ufficiale di navigazione del diporto (UND)
Art. 5 requires age 18, a diploma and a period as allievo ufficiale (deck cadet) recorded in a libretto di addestramento (training record book):
- 36 months, at least 24 on navi or imbarcazioni over 15 m;
- 30 months for a comune di guardia (watch rating);
- 18 months for a marittimo abilitato, or for an enrolled UND 2ª classe holder;
- 12 months after a nautical technical diploma, or a diploma plus an A-II/1 course.
Courses: basic fire-fighting, survival, PSSR, security awareness, MAMS (survival craft), GMDSS, radar and First Aid. Then an exam at A-II/1 operational level.
Capitano and comandante del diporto
The capitano (art. 6) needs the UND, 12 months as OOW on yachts, advanced fire-fighting, radar/ARPA – bridge teamwork – search and rescue, the A-II/2 leadership module and an A-II/2 exam. The comandante (art. 7) needs the capitano title, 24 months as chief mate on yachts or RI charter ships of 500 GT or more, and Medical Care.
CAUTION — ECDIS and MABEV A capitano or comandante without the operational ECDIS course or the MABEV (fast rescue boat) certificate gets a title limited to ships not fitted with those systems (arts 6(3), 7(3)). On a modern superyacht with a fast rescue tender that limitation bites.
Sail
All four titles are motor titles. For sailing yachts add the vela specialisation (art. 8), free of exam for holders of a sail-valid patente.
For the competence content at II/1 and II/2 level, OOW (Yachts) and Master (Yachts) in the MCA library are the right companions; the Italian titles are pitched at the same STCW standard.