IT-GUIDE-L5.1

Coastal Rules, Marine Protected Areas and Posidonia

IT-GUIDE-M5 · Practical Matters on the Italian Coast · IT-GUIDE-M5-A Speed limits, bathing ordinances, marine protected areas and posidonia; emergency numbers; where to train and sit exams.

National **8 kn within 500 m** and **3 kn in anchorages**, local bathing ordinances, and the protected areas where a superyacht is unwelcome or banned.

Legal frame

Governing: D.M. 146/2008 arts 91-bis and 91-ter; Capitaneria bathing ordinances (e.g. Piombino 50/2026, Palermo 46/2026); L. 70/2026 art. 20; AMP regulations (Portofino, Tavolara); La Maddalena ord. 33/2026. Builds on: none.

National speeds

D.M. 146 art. 91-bis (added in 2024) sets national limits unless the local maritime authority's ordinance says otherwise:

  • 8 kn under power within 500 m of the coast, breakwaters and the outer limit of harbour mouths and landing places;
  • 3 kn, and maximum caution, inside ports and in roadsteads and bays where units are at anchor;
  • no nuisance noise within 500 m while in transit, stopped or at anchor.

Art. 91-ter tells harbour masters, when they set local limits, to weigh bathers' and divers' safety and safe anchoring. Italy has no national length-based anchoring regime of the French 24/45/80 m kind.

Bathing ordinances

Every summer each Capitaneria issues an ordinanza di sicurezza balneare (bathing-safety ordinance). The pattern is similar; the numbers are local:

Rule Piombino 50/2026 Palermo 46/2026
Strip reserved to bathers 200 m from beaches, 100 m from cliffs 300 m from the shoreline, 100 m from cliffs
Launch corridors Perpendicular, 3 kn 3 kn, displacement mode
Divers' signals Keep 100 m off Dive pairs

Read the ordinance for the stretch of coast you are on. Tenders and toys are where crews most often get caught.

Posidonia

L. 70/2026 art. 20 (in force 10 May 2026) says anchoring must not destroy, degrade or fragment sensitive or protected habitats, "con particolare riferimento alle praterie di Posidonia oceanica". It sets no zones, length thresholds or penalties. The bite comes from protected-area rules and ordinances.

Three areas every crew should know

  • Portofino AMP: "è vietata la navigazione alle navi da diporto". A yacht over 24 m may not enter the protected area at all. Smaller units face zone rules and 5 kn limits.
  • Tavolara – Punta Coda Cavallo AMP: no anchoring on posidonia or coralligenous beds. In zone B, units up to 30 m may anchor on sand or pebble only; in zone C, up to 40 m; yachts over 40 m only inside designated 0.10 nm circles (La Cinta, Spalmatore). Navi da diporto transit perpendicular to the coast, with authorisation, to reach moorings and anchorages.
  • La Maddalena: Capitaneria ord. 33/2026, a trial for the 2026 and 2027 seasons (1 Jun–30 Sep): 7 kn within 500 m and 10 kn from 500 to 1,000 m, in displacement mode; anchor-free transit and rescue corridors; no anchoring on posidonia or mapped sensitive seabed, sand or mud only; no black or grey water discharge in the Park. The National Park adds its own permit.

WARNING — Local rules change every season Speeds and distances in this lesson are examples in force in 2026. Download the current ordinance and AMP rules before each trip; the chartplotter does not know them.

For anchoring technique and seagrass, see Anchoring in the Balearics and Anchoring on the Riviera and Corsica; the principles carry across.

Practice questions

5 questions

recall · core

What is the national speed limit within 500 m of the coast, unless a local ordinance says otherwise? (a) 10 kn (b) 8 kn (c) 5 kn (d) 3 kn

recall · core

What is the maximum speed in ports and in bays where units lie at anchor? (a) 3 kn (b) 6 kn (c) 5 kn (d) 8 kn

recall · core

In which protected area is navigation by navi da diporto (over 24 m) banned throughout? (a) Portofino (b) Cinque Terre (c) Tavolara (d) Egadi

recall · core

What does L. 70/2026 art. 20 on posidonia actually do? (a) States a principle that anchoring must not damage posidonia and other sensitive habitats, without penalties or size thresholds (b) Bans anchoring for yachts over 24 m (c) Sets a €10,000 fine (d) Requires a permit for anchoring anywhere

scenario · core

In July, a 35 m yacht approaches Tavolara intending to anchor in zone B over what looks like weed. What does the AMP regulation say? (a) Allowed if the engines are off (b) Allowed with a park ticket (c) Not allowed: zone B anchoring is for units up to 30 m, on sand or pebble only, never on posidonia (d) Fine at any length

Independent study. xplor is not affiliated with the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT), the Guardia Costiera / Capitanerie di Porto or any marine protected area, is not an approved nautical school (scuola nautica) or training centre, and awards no licence, title, certificate or endorsement. Titles, endorsements and exams are obtained only through the Capitanerie, the Direzioni marittime, Italian consulates and MIT-recognised training institutes, and nothing in this guide counts towards sea service, course hours or any exam. AI-drafted content pending subject-matter-expert review.