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 France COVID-19 Restrictions

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).
April 21, 2020 Finland COVID-19 Restrictions

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.
April 21, 2020 Croatia COVID-19 Restrictions

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 %.
April 21, 2020 Canada COVID-19 Restrictions

Canada is on lockdown with all non-essential shops, bars and restaurants closed, as well as all facilities providing indoor recreational programs, public libraries, schools, child care centres; cinemas, theatres and concert halls.
Since boating season has not begun in most parts of Canada there are not significant restrictions at this time. However, all national parks are closed for access land and water. In the province of Ontario marine servicing has been deemed essential
April 21, 2020 Brazil COVID-19 Restrictions

Brazil is on lockdown for non-essential sectors. Even football matches have been suspended. Yet, given the vastness of the country, measures vary according to regional peculiarities, the denser urban areas are being more restrictive, and the countryside more relaxed. While tourism activities, such as hotels, restaurants, air travel and services in general have been hit very hard, our farming sector (agriculture and livestock) hasn’t been affected much so far.
Some municipalities along the coast have taken drastic measures, suspending the operation permit of non-essential establishments, such as hotels and marinas.
April 21, 2020 Israel COVID-19 Restrictions

Due to the Passover holiday, Israel is in almost full lockdown for 72 hours. People are instructed to stay in their cities.

Marinas -will stay open to arrival and departure of vessels - no permit has been issued to close marinas. Foreign citizens aren’t allowed to enter - except for special instructions and permission in advance by the Population and Immigration authorities. Israelis will be allowed to enter the state in accordance with the Ministry of Health instructions. Every Israeli entering the country will be required to a 14-day quarantine.
Quarantine on sailing vessels is not permitted throughout all marina areas. Checking procedures of sailing vessels will be carried out in a separate pier, the same as it was up until now. Coming in touch with the vessels’ body does not require a special protection uniform. Sanitizing vessels is not required. All costs deriving from the treatments of vessels will be carried out by the vessel owner, with in advance notice.
Business- Permitted business are supermarkets, groceries, bakeries, food shops, pharmacies, optics stores, animal food stores, household maintenance services, electric shops, communication products and services and medical equipment.
Business will operate while maintaining 2 meters of distance from customers. No more than 4 customers per cash register in a store.
Work places- Employers must take employees’ temperature upon entrance to the workplace. Employees are required to fill out a symptom declaration form to be kept by the employers. Employers should work remotely as much as possible. In a workplace, people are to keep 2 meters from each other, open windows and restrict work to 2 people in the same room.
Transportation- When driving in a private vehicle, 2 people are allowed.
Upon operating busses, trains, light rail or shuttles, an empty row that separates drivers from passengers is required. One person per bench. Standing passengers need to keep 2 meters from each other. Ventilation and cleaning of the vehicle is required after each ride. In a taxi, one passenger is allowed in the back seat while all vehicle’s windows are open.
Resident restrictions - When entering public places, wearing a mask that covers the mouth and the nose is required. Gatherings in public places are not allowed.
April 21, 2020 Hungary COVID-19 Restrictions

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
April 21, 2020 Australia COVID-19 Restrictions

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.
April 21, 2020 Sweden Government support of industry during COVID-19

There is a full package of support available for SMEs affected by the current situation. Application process seems complicated, so Sweboat is assisting their members with this.
April 29, 2020 Spain Government support of industry during COVID-19

The government approved on 24 March the launch of credits for 20,000 million to guarantee the liquidity of the companies most affected by Covid-19. Half of that amount will be used to guarantee new loans to SMEs and the self-employed.
Paying taxes is delayed.
The term of the tax procedures already started will last until April 30, and those that are going to open are extended until May 20.