Where candidates go wrong
- They think it is about tonnage. The trigger is length. A hull over 24 m (measured to UNI EN ISO 8666) is a nave da diporto (pleasure ship), and whoever takes command of it must hold the patente per nave da diporto (Codice art. 39(2)). Tonnage only splits ships into maggiore and minore.
- They apply too early. The age and seniority conditions are checked on the day you file the application, not on exam day (D.M. 146/2008 art. 35(1)).
- They treat it as a professional ticket. It is a pleasure-craft licence. People who work on navi da diporto fall under the professional titles of D.M. 121/2005 (art. 1). How a salaried captain on a private yacht fits between the two regimes is something to check with the Capitaneria before you sign a contract.
- They rely on a foreign licence. A foreign national may command an Italian-flag nave on a home licence only a titolo gratuito (unpaid) and within its limits (D.M. 146 art. 34).
What the licence covers
| Unit | Definition (Codice art. 3) | Patente B? |
|---|---|---|
| Nave da diporto maggiore (major pleasure ship) | over 24 m and over 500 GT | Yes |
| Nave da diporto minore (minor pleasure ship) | over 24 m, up to 500 GT | Yes |
| Nave minore storica (historic minor ship) | over 24 m, up to 120 GT, built before 1 Jan 1967 | Yes |
| Imbarcazione / natante (boat up to 24 m) | 24 m or less | Yes: motor, sail and mixed (D.M. 146 art. 26(2)) |
There is no GT or distance ceiling written into the licence itself. The ship's documents and certificates set its limits.
Who may sit it
| Condition | Rule |
|---|---|
| Age | 21 at application (art. 35(1)(c)) |
| Seniority | Patente A senza alcun limite (category A, no distance limit), at least motor, held for at least 3 years |
| Fitness | Medical certificate under art. 36, issued no more than 6 months before the application |
| Character | Art. 37: in addition to the general bars, drug, immigration and smuggling convictions bar the licences for senza limiti and navi, unless the offence is extinguished or you are rehabilitated |
The medical standards are stricter for senza limiti and navi. For example, the 12-mile licence can be issued after two years without seizures, but the senza limiti and nave licences cannot be issued to anyone with a history of repeated epileptic episodes (Allegato I).
WARNING — The Guardia Costiera page is looser than the decree The Guardia Costiera service page says that candidates for A, B and C must be "over 18". For category B the decree says 21. Go by the decree.
Routes without the exam
- Professional deck titles listed in Allegato III, letter A(1)(a), such as merchant chief mate or master, UND, capitano or comandante del diporto, UND 2ª classe, marinaio autorizzato al traffico, held with a valid seaman's book, give the patente B on application (Allegato III, letter B). Registered pilots qualify too.
- Military and Coast Guard officers, and qualifying petty officers, may claim A and B without exams within a year of leaving the service (Codice art. 39(6-ter), (6-quinquies)).
What you risk without it
| Offence (Codice art. 53) | Fine |
|---|---|
| Command without the required licence | €2,755 to €11,017, doubled on a nave: €5,510 to €22,034 |
| Command with an expired licence | €276 to €1,377, and the licence is withdrawn |
Validity: 10 years, or 5 if you are 60 or over at issue or renewal (art. 38).
TIP — The UND 2ª classe door A valid patente B lets you apply for the professional title ufficiale di navigazione del diporto di 2ª classe without an exam (D.D. 40/2025 art. 6(1)(a)), subject to the training and medical requirements of D.M. 121 art. 4-bis. See UND 2ª classe prep.
What the examiner wants to see
A candidate who can explain in two sentences why they need this licence and what it lets them command. At the oral, "what may you command with the patente B?" is a warm-up. Hesitate over 24 m, the definitions or the no-pay rule for foreign licences and the board will start digging.
Vocabolario d'esame
| Italiano | English |
|---|---|
| nave da diporto | pleasure ship (over 24 m) |
| patente per nave da diporto (cat. B) | category B licence |
| domanda di ammissione | exam application |
| requisiti morali | good-character requirements |
| certificato medico | medical certificate |
| a titolo gratuito | unpaid |
| convalida | renewal |