The Ministry of Transport to the Coast Guard: “make the skippers work!”

It is indeed true that there is none so deaf as those who will not hear. And it is unfortunate that there are many harbor masters in this role who, almost two years after the introduction of the new figure of theSecond Class Recreational Officer, continue to obstruct the figure of this professional skipper.

Even the ministry explains it (again): the skipper is not a seafarer!

So it took yet another new circular from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (No. 21271 of 6/10/2025), urged moreover also by Confindustria Nautica, to clarify once and for all that the 2nd class pleasure boating officer is not obliged to be registered in the professional register of “Seafarers,” the official register kept by the Maritime Authorities that records professional seafarers and port service personnel. So once the required title and qualifications are obtained, the pleasure boat skipper can safely embark and work as a professional.

This had actually already been clear for two years, written in black and white on the decree that established this title. But it was probably not sufficiently understood or “digested” by several Port Authorities, which continued to maintain that in order to embark as a skipper, it was still necessary to have a Navigation Booklet, a document provided, however, only for “Seafarers.” A bureaucratic tailspin that has often blocked the start of skipper examinations, scheduled so far only by a handful of Harbour Offices.

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Now, even this umpteenth hurdle should be overcome. In fact, the ministerial circular reiterates that “2nd class pleasure boat officers do not have the obligation, but only the option of registration in the seafarers’ registers.” And, for the avoidance of misunderstanding, it also clarifies that these professional fugures are not among “seafarers,” but among “maritime workers,” and therefore the provisions of the Civil Code (thus not those of the Navigation Code) and other related laws should be applied to them. Such as, the circular continues, a contract for the provision of services registered with the Internal Revenue Service. A contract that must include dates of embarkation and disembarkation and be kept on board. Sufficiently clear?

Fabrizio Coccia