10% vat on ports, computerized registry, “rational” controls. Whether politics has woken up?

That policy has finally taken action in favor of boating? Massimo Perotti, the new president of UCINA (the Confindustria Nautica, which brings together the industry’s operators), expressed confidence at a press meeting. Let’s see what should change, positively, soon.

1. THE CENTRAL COMPUTERIZED REGISTER OF VESSELS
It has been talked about for three years, but the legislative process to establish a central computerized registry of vessels has proven to be more difficult than expected. “But now it is finally coming to fruition,” Perotti said. There will finally be born a boating archive exactly like the automotive one, which will provide a way to centralize individual data, so the authorities in charge will be able to carry out any tax audits directly from their offices and not with detentions at sea. A much-needed measure to overcome the current regime of boat registries still in paper format, which greatly increases the time and burden on users.

2. 10% VAT FOR MARINAS.
“By summer 10% VAT for Marina resorts, all over Italy.” Let’s hope Perotti is right: apply the same VAT regime as hotel facilities to marinas. A truism (this is how it works abroad), but one that our politicians did not perceive as obvious. Some regions, such as Liguria, Emilia-Romagna and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, had found a solution by equating the water areas of tourist landings with the areas of campgrounds through regional regulations. Now, at last, such regulations could also be perceived at the national level, translating into a decrease in mooring fees and the consequent return among our docks of the “indignados” who fled abroad.

3. THE RATIONALIZATION OF CONTROLS AT SEA.
In the name of the much-hyped “spending review,” the idea of rationalizing the state bodies that garrison Italy’s seas would finally make its way into parliamentary halls. Two should be, as is the case in other advanced nations, the bodies that carry out the checks, the garrisoning, the detection of crimes. First and foremost, the Coast Guard, which is tasked with the garrisoning of Italy’s coasts and territorial waters with direct duties or coordination of all activities, excluding fiscal control activities. So we are talking about rescue: in case, he can ask for the help of police and/or carabinieri. As far as fiscal controls are concerned, the task should remain the preserve of the Guardia di Finanza (which, once the Telematic Register of Boats is established, would not even have the need for sea checks to ascertain whose boat it is). Goodbye then to the Police, Carabinieri, Forestry and so on. And end of chaos. Hopefully.

THE BOAT SHOW WILL CHANGE ITS LOOK
Starting in 2015, Perotti announced during the press conference, the Boat Show will change format. The location will still be the same, Genoa, but the event will be held in May and will focus on lifestyle, with a focus on Made in Italy. “The name has not yet been decided, it will be done in conjunction with Expo 2015 in Milan, for affinity of message, to unite efforts,” said the UCINA president.