Good examples – This is how Friuli Venezia Giulia helps boating and boaters

Incentives for refitting recreational vessels, bonuses for scrapping older boats, support for converting endothermic marine engines to electric ones, monitoring of berths plus a number of other measures for marinas and the development of the marine economy.

Friuli Venezia Giulia supports boating

The Friuli Venezia Giulia region on Nov. 21 approved its law for the revitalization of the nautical sector, the first to be so comprehensively passed in Italy. “A law,” as Regional Councillor for Productive Activities and Tourism Sergio Emidio Bini pointed out, “that will also bring with it important economic resources for the sector, suffice it to say that resources amounting to 2.4 million euros have already been allocated for the biennium 2025-26.

That of Friuli Venezia Giulia (which we recall is a region with a special statute) is good example from which we hope other Italian regions will also take a cue.

Incentives

Prominent among the measures taken are incentives for those who are residents of Friuli Venezia Giulia or who have a registered office or operating unit in the region. Those who have owned a recreational unit more than 20 years old for at least two years will be able to apply for them. The refitting grant is 3,000 euros for units up to 5 meters in length, increased by 500 euros for each additional meter, up to a maximum of 15,000 euros. It cannot be used for the purchase of marine engines. The scrapping bonus, on the other hand, is 2,500 euros for pleasure craft up to 10 meters in length, increased by 250 euros for each additional meter up to 10 meters, and up to a maximum contribution of 8,000 euros. The bonus is also provided to municipalities that apply for it to dispose of abandoned units, in this case also without the 20-year seniority requirement.

Ecobonus

Incentivized the replacement of endothermic combustion marine engines with new “environmentally friendly” engines (hybrid, electric, hydrogen or methanol). A bonus is provided that will be able to cover 40 percent of the cost incurred up to a maximum of 10,000 euros for the purchase of a new electric motor and its battery pack, against the scrapping of an endothermic engine. Residents of Friuli Venezia Giulia (or those with a registered office or operating unit in the region) who have owned a recreational craft for at least two years will be eligible. The minimum eligible expenditure is 3,000 euros and each beneficiary can apply for the purchase of up to 2 engines.

Charter companies

The law also provides incentives to commercial enterprises engaged in the business of transporting (for tourism purposes) people, renting or leasing for the purchase of recreational units. Grants of a minimum amount of 5,000 euros and a maximum of 100,000 euros are provided to purchase recreational units powered by engines with low environmental impact (hybrid, electric, hydrogen or methanol).

Marinas in Friuli Venezia Giulia

To support the boating sector, owners and managers (public and private) of marinas, docks, marinas and moorings located in Friuli Venezia Giulia will be able to receive up to 100,000 euros for interventions in technological innovation, renewal of equipment and facilities, renovation and modernization of buildings and services. Grants of up to 5,000 euros are also planned for holding events and demonstrations aimed at the development of recreational boating.

• Read also: Italy’s largest port is in Friuli Venezia Giulia

Effective January 1, 2025

Also planned is the activation of a permanent interdisciplinary table for the study, analysis and development of the nautical sector and the economy of the regional sea, lagoons and inland waters; the promotion of professional training courses; and a series of conventions with regional universities and public research institutions for an analysis and mapping of the nautical sector. In addition, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region is committed to adopting a master plan soon to define the network of public moorings, including those under concession to private parties, in order to draw up the relevant regulations.

The law for the development of Friuli Venezia Giulia’s nautical sector will come into effect on January 1, 2025, but applying for the various incentives will have to wait for further regulations that will define criteria and modalities.

Fabrizio Coccia