Regulatory Reference Guide

MONITORING SITE FOR THE REGULATORY REFERENCE GUIDE

Welcome to the online Regulatory Reference Guide (RRG). It offers you the opportunity to search, sort and consult the rules impacting the recreational marine. The ICOMIA Secretariat invites all MIAs to check and update their sections frequently. We are sure that you will appreciate this very informative tool.

To browse the RRG, select a country and/or criteria from the dropdown menus

Updated date Country Criteria
April 21, 2020 Greece COVID-19 Restrictions

In Greece the number of people affected remains relatively low for now, compared to other European countries. The fast response of the Government with hard measures taken, has now proved as a successful proactive policy.
April 21, 2020 Germany COVID-19 Restrictions

All business/shops except food, gas, pharmacy etc. are closed until April 19th. Marinas are closed. Boats cannot be moved into the harbour. In the public only people of one household or two persons are allowed to be together. In the marinas, sailing clubs etc. it is allowed to work on your boat with two persons. Professionals are allowed to work on boats. If boats are already in the marina (water) owners are not allowed to enter the boat.
April 21, 2020 New Zealand COVID-19 Restrictions

The country is under mandatory lockdown. All residents are required to remain in their homes and stay in the same place for at least the next four weeks. Marinas and boatyards have closed, boat owners and the public are not allowed to travel other than to super markets or medical care facilities, so Marinas and Boat Yards are not to be visited. A small number of marinas have retained some live aboard who are under strict controls. People are permitted to exercise by walking around the immediate area around their home, but a visit to the beach for a swim is not permitted. Marinas are permitted to have a security guard but no other staff on site. 
April 21, 2020 Poland COVID-19 Restrictions

On Tuesday 31st March, Poland introduced further restrictions. The penalty for violating them is a fine up to a maximum of 30,000 zloty (EU6,600). They include:
- Pedestrians must remain 2 metres apart from one another, even if they are walking together. This includes members of the same family. Exceptions are made for children under 13 or people with disabilities
- Shops can only admit 3 customers at the same time for each cash register they have
- Outdoor markets and post offices will have similar restrictions on customer numbers
- Customers in all shops must wear disposable gloves
- Workplaces must separate work stations by at least 1.5 metres and employees must wear gloves
- Parks, beaches and various other public recreation spaces are closed
- Hotels and other short-term rental accommodation are closed (apart from those for use in quarantine or isolation, or for medical personnel)
- Grocery shops and pharmacies to only serve customers over 65 years old between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. every day
- Anyone living with a person under a legal quarantine order must also be quarantined

As for the yacht industry, companies are still operating. Producers of boats and yachts see the main problems in the supply of various types of components and equipment. That's why two of the largest Polish shipyards Ostroda Yacht and Delphia Yachts, both being part of the Beneteau Group, suspended production for several weeks. This is a big problem for hundreds of small suppliers, for whom these shipyards were the main recipients of their products or services.
Earlier two shipyards have suspended production - Mirage Boats (Norwegian capital and management) and Viking (aluminum fishing boats mainly for the Scandinavian market).
April 21, 2020 Portugal COVID-19 Restrictions

The President has declared the state of emergency on the 19th of March. This has given the power to the Government to take a number of urgent measures. To complete lock down of the country, most businesses had to close, restaurants can operate on take away only, all big events had to be cancelled. The borders with Spain have been closed to avoid contamination.

Marinas and other ports are closed to any boats with foreign flag. They can come in port only for fuel or urgent supplies but the crews are not allowed to come ashore. All boating activities have been forbidden. Almost all commercial activities have been closed in the marinas. Maintenance works are allowed and the marinas are working on reduced schedules, with minimum staff but guaranteeing all services to the boats.

Tourism in Portugal is one of the biggest industries, we are being hit in a very hard way and right when the season was starting.
April 21, 2020 Singapore COVID-19 Restrictions

Since the update on 02-Apr, new cases of infected peoplew in Singapore have skyrocketed (with new record of 1426 cases). Singapore was blindsided by the spread in worker dormitories. Shared common facilities (kitchens & toilets) and cramped living conditions made safe distancing impossible. The country is highly dependent on migrant workers especially in the construction industry. Government is trying to give more space to these workers by relocating some to makeshift accommodation such as unused exhibition halls and floating accommodations (cruise ships as well as floating dormitories used by the oil & gas sector in the heydays).
Singapore has been in partial lockdown since 04-Apr: Safe distancing measures were further ramped up with enforcement powers. Education institutions have closed and switched to full home-based learning (HBL), with daycare arranged for those needing homecare support for children. All non-essential retail has closed. F&B outlets are open only for take-away or delivery. Banking, medical sector, transport, cleaning sectors remain open. Economic sectors critical to global supply chain remain open. All businesses have switched to working from home as much as possible. Everyone is required to stay at home as much as possible and avoid socialising and leave the house only for essential purposes ((buy groceries & exercise). When out, all are encouraged to wear a reusable mask (surgical masks reserved for healthcare workers). This is a turnaround from the previous policy of no mask needed unless sick, because of the rise in untraceable & asymptomatic transmissions.
Port authorities have stopped all recreational boating activity within local waters. Boatowners can access their boats only for checking and urgent maintenance. Foreign arrivals by sea will need to pre-register their arrival (health declaration) and be subjected to 14 day stay home notice.
April 21, 2020 Germany Government support of industry during COVID-19

Kurzarbeitergeld (Reduced hours compensation). A company is able to ask for support for salaries, if the coronavirus crisis is the reason for difficulties. The employee is payed 60% (without children), 67 % (with children) of the last net income by the government. Mostly the companies are paying in addition another 20 % of the loss. This scheme can be used for up to two years. Credits guaranteed by government are available. In the beginning in total 600 billion Euros. Direct help: 50 billion Euros are given to small enterprises up to 10 employees, up to 15.000 Euros/company. This amount doesn’t have to be paid back. Taxes can be paid 3 month later. Insurance for the employees can be paid 3 month later. All states have additional financial and fiscal help.
April 21, 2020 Greece Government support of industry during COVID-19

A discussion has started with the Government regarding the mooring fees of the chartered/commercial boats which are currently moored/locked in the marinas. All charters or sails are forbidden in the Greek territory, so now the professional unions and associations are asking a 40-60% discount on the mooring fees for the next months. The State has already announced a 40% reduction of the rent for the commercial stores, restaurants, cafes, etc for the period being locked down.
April 21, 2020 United Kingdom Government support of industry during COVID-19

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme goes live on Monday, 20th April and British Marine are encouraging all their members to apply where applicable.
Businesses that fall within the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will benefit from a 12-month business rates holiday.
The UK Government has also announced a series of grants for UK businesses. Businesses with a rateable value of under £15,000 will be entitled to receive a grant of up to £10,000.
For businesses with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000 they will be eligible to receive a grant of up to £25,000. British Marine understands that local authorities will contact eligible businesses directly and so there is no requirement to file an application.
The Government has launched a temporary Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme to help businesses that may require additional financial assistance.
The scheme will provide loans of up to £5 million in value. These will be backed by the British Business Bank and delivered through commercial lenders. This scheme is now open for applications and we would encourage businesses to discuss their requirements directly with the banks participating in the scheme, details of which can be found here.
The Government is taking additional measures to protect jobs by creating a dedicated Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This scheme applies to all UK businesses, regardless of their size. Employers will be able to contact HMRC for a grant to cover most of the wages of staff who are not working but are furloughed and kept on the company’s payroll system.
This grant from the UK Government will cover 80% of the salary of retained workers up to a total of £2,500 per month. We understand payments will be backdated to 1 March 2020 with the expectation that the scheme will be in place for a period of three months, with the first set of grants being delivered by the end of April. Employees must have been on the company’s payroll on 28 February 2020 to qualify.
April 22, 2020 USA Government support of industry during COVID-19

The US national government has passed a $2 trillion funding package aimed at supporting small businesses, distressed industries, unemployed workers and injecting cash directly into American households.
On Friday, 3rd April, small businesses and sole proprietorships can apply for the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) – an initiative that was included in the $2 trillion economic relief bill signed by President Trump last week, which authorizes nearly $350 billion in forgivable loans to businesses to pay up to eight weeks of payroll costs, including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities.