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

Finland
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

Finland has opened the Uusimaa (Helsinki region + surroundings) borders as of Thursday April 16th. Boating is not forbidden, but is not recommended by the Government. Many mayors of small towns welcome summer residents since without summer residents there would be no services for the locals either. In some cases, they bring up to 70% of revenue.
All events and gatherings over 10 people are forbidden until May 13th. Government promised to announce their decision regarding summer events by end of April. Restaurants, sports facilities, museums and other public facilities are closed until May 31st.
Schools are closed until May 13th, but being opened step by step. At the moment 1st to 3rd graders can go to school.
Boat sales activity is going down, but due to the very strong Helsinki Boat Show in February, the deliveries are taking place almost as planned. Same for equipment sales and services as people are anxious to get their boats on water as spring is advancing fast. Boat makers are experiencing more supply chain issues, but continue production as much as they can until summer holidays.
Croatia
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

Since 16th March all schools, universities, bars, restaurants, shops, public transport, banks, markets and all public events are stopped. Open are only supermarkets for food, pharmacies, post offices and petrol stations. All Marina receptions are closed and communication is online. It is allowed to work in the boatyards, services points and in the Marinas outside, but under distance and other protection rules. The authority’s suggestion is to stay at home and not to go outside except going to work or some other justified reason, and only with a special permission document, issued from authorities by company manager or another responsible person.
It is allowed to work in the boatyards, services points and in the Marinas outside, but under distance and other protection rules. The authority’s suggestion is to stay at home and not to go outside except going to work or some other justified reason, and only with a special permission document, issued from authorities by company manager or another responsible person.
Access to all islands is prohibited except for those living on the island, for deliveries, and some special reasons but with a special permission issued by local authorities and under Police strictly controlled access to the Island in Ferryboat harbours. It is not allowed to sail with the boat except the professional's fisherman boats. Ferryboats are operating to the Islands in very reduced timeline, with only 4-5 lines per day.
Maintenance services make the majority of the nautical sector business. A significant drop of income is expected within the charter industry of more than 80 %.
France
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

All the shops (except a few click-and-collect ones), restaurants (take-away is still authorised), cinemas, museums, public services, banks etc... are closed since the 17th March until 11th May. Everyone must stay confined at home. Working from home is strongly encouraged, but factories and enterprises can operate, if they follow the distancing and sanitary measures applicable to their employees (strictly no contact with the public). Gatherings are prohibited, you're not allowed to meet friends, walk in groups... and you must prevent any kind of contact by staying away from each other (minimum 1 meter). It is only permitted to leave your home for - medical reason, food shopping, work if your job cannot be done as working from home, to help vulnerable people like elderly parents or handicapped people, or to exercise (walking, running, dog walking) if you stay in a range of 1km from your home and for a maximum of 1 hour. When you leave home, you must take your ID with you and fill up each time a self-declaration form that you have to take with you. Controls are operated by the police. Access to the seashore, lakes, beaches, coastal footpaths, marinas, quays, slipways is strictly forbidden, as well as the practice of any kind of waterside activity (boating, even swimming, surfing, kayaking).
Germany
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

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.
Greece
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

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.
Grenada
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

Grenada is still on lockdown, however a new yacht registry portal (www.grenadalima.com.) has been created to better communicate relevant marine information, available provision companies, plus direct communication with marina destinations and boatyard facilities.
Hong Kong
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

Due to increasing number of cases the Government has stepped up introducing stronger measures (limiting alcohol licenses at bars & restaurants, and ordering the closure of sports clubs with private recreational leases). Several yacht clubs have closed due to the new government policies on PRL but access to boats are still open.
According to a recent survey conducted by Hong Kong Boating Industry Association, a total of 71% of employees will be affected if the downturn persists.
Cancellation of both international and local boating & sailing events has had a significant to moderate negative impact for three quarters of the companies in the industry
Hungary
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

The government issued a lockdown (stay-at-home) for two weeks, starting on Saturday 28th March till 11th April, people in Hungary will only be allowed to leave their homes for "substantial reasons," though the list of these exceptions is rather extensive, ranging from grocery shopping to manicures.
Since Hungary has no connection to the sea, only inland waterways, boating is allowed, but if you are not with your family members you must hold 1.5 meters distance. Owners can't live permanently on their boat as it is not a residence, only a recreational place.
Effects on the marine Industry:
- all the customers who ordered sailing or power boat by the last Boat Show will be served, new customers stepped back and sales have stopped
- orders in the shops have stopped but have increased online
- sailing school courses are postponed or cancelled
- charter reservations have been cancelled for April, May, June, on sea 2020/2021 winter reservation are also stopped
- charter on the sea (abroad: Croatia, Greece, Seychelles etc.) decreased
- closing marinas is not mandatory but some of them decided restrictions, otherwise they declare it as a workplace. Working is limited, owners can only work on their boat, otherwise boat owners can visit their boat but limited
- Hungarian Sailing Federation decided to postpone the regattas to further notice
- no passenger boats traffic allowed
Ireland
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

Ireland has entered a stringent new phase of restrictions:
Stay at home in all circumstances, except in the following situations:
-to travel to and from work where the work is considered an essential service.
-working in an essential shop, bank or post office.
to attend medical appointments and collect medicines and other health products for yourself, your family or someone who is vulnerable or 'cocooning'
-for vital family reasons including caring for children, elderly or vulnerable people but excluding social family visits
-to exercise within 2 kilometres of your house. You cannot exercise with people from outside your household.

Marina and boatyard staff have been classed as essential workers. Marinas, boatyards and Yacht Clubs have closed to all customers/members for a two week period. This includes contractors.
Australia
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

Restrictions on the following places: pubs, registered and licenced clubs, hotels (excluding accommodation), gyms and indoor sporting venues, cinemas, entertainment venues, casinos, and night clubs. Restaurants and cafes will be restricted to takeaway and/or home delivery.
Advice has now been strengthened reducing it to two persons in public spaces and other areas of gathering. However, each state can have slightly different laws and ways of endorsing this.