Sea safety: new rules and mandatory equipment in 2025
Sea safety is changing.
On 21 October 2025, the new rules introduced by Decree No. 133 of 17 September 2024 came into force, updating the mandatory safety equipment for leisure boats.
The main changes concern life jackets, harnesses, depth sounders and emergency equipment. Here are the key updates:
Life jackets
Beyond 6 miles, an automatic light is now required, useful in case of man overboard.
Each jacket must also display the boat’s identification code.
Depth sounder
Mandatory for navigation beyond 12 miles.
It can be electronic or manual, but manual models must measure at least 20 metres.
Visual signals table
Required on board for navigation beyond 6 miles.
It helps identify day and night emergency signals according to COLREG rules.
Maintenance and use
From October 2025, following the manufacturer’s recommendations becomes compulsory for all safety equipment.
It’s no longer enough to simply have the device on board: it must be used, maintained and replaced according to the maker’s instructions (timing, methods, checks).
For sailing boats
New requirements also apply here: safety harnesses become mandatory.
Required beyond 6 miles, with at least two harnesses on board when sailing more than 12 miles offshore.
