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The digitization of the marine industry takes a new step forward. After the computerization of maritime registries and the introduction of the Telematic Desks of the Yachtsman, the management of nautical licenses also enters the digital age. On May 9, the decree of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport was published in the Official Gazette, which, in collaboration with the Ministries of the Interior and Public Administration, gave the green light to the implementing regulations for the creation and management of the National Registry of Nautical Licenses. This centralized system, based on a digital database, will make it possible to coordinate all licenses, monitor them in real time and collect even the most serious infractions.
With the arrival of the digital registry, the era of nautical licenses managed on paper and archived in a fragmented way between Port Authorities, maritime offices and the Civil Motorization, with the consequent slowdowns and difficulties of access, comes to an end. The computerized archive, which has been awaited for years and was already provided for in the 2017 reform of the Recreational Boating Code, is finally becoming a reality.
The decree will go into effect on Nov. 24, 2025, but for boaters, the procedures for issuing or renewing licenses will not change, nor will the offices of reference continue to be Coast Guard, maritime offices, and the Civil DMV.
The National Registry of Boating Licenses was created for the purposes of safety of navigation, protection of human life at sea, prevention of crimes committed via recreational craft and to ensure complete and up-to-date data on boating users. The system, hosted at the Data Processing Center of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, is divided into five main sections:
Master data: personal information of the holders.
Licenses: details on issuance, renewal, suspension, revocation, duplicates, and revisions.
Prescriptions and limitations: any medical or operational restrictions, on-board service requirements, unit or engine type limitations.
Violations: infractions that result in incidental administrative penalties, such as seizure or suspension of a driver’s license.
Marine casualties: serious accidents with established liability and final penalties or convictions.
Any changes (issuance, renewal, suspension, revocation, duplicate) will be updated telematically by the Harbour Offices, Maritime Offices and the Civil DMV. Law enforcement agencies will also be required to report any ancillary orders or final judgments within five days. Licenses that have already been issued will be migrated to the new system at the first useful event, such as a renewal or duplicate, with no action required on the part of holders, although full digitization will take time (up to 10 years).
Given the amount of sensitive data, the decree places great emphasis on privacy protection: access is allowed only for institutional purposes and to the extent necessary, all access will be tracked, and the Ministry will monitor compliance with the rules, reporting any violations to the Privacy Guarantor.
The establishment of the digital registry is a key step toward more efficient and transparent boating, with faster paperwork, fewer errors and more effective controls. However, the centralization of data also means the creation of comprehensive digital profiles, with health and judicial information accessible to different agencies, increasing the risks associated with unauthorized access, misuse or cyber attacks. It is the double face of digital innovation with which the industry will have to contend.
Fabrizio Coccia
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