In order to improve the navigation conditions on our lakes, and in pursuance of the Federal and Cantonal navigation laws, the Traffic Section announces the following directives that discipline boat navigation on the lakes with a parking place abroad.

Foreign tourists who intend to navigate on motorboats or sailing boats must have a temporary authorisation and the relative badges that are issued at the following Tourist Offices:

Tourist Office Lake Maggiore

Via Larzo Zorzi 1 | 6600 Locarno
Phone +41 (0)91 791 00 91 | Fax: +41 (0)91 785 19 41

Tourist Office Malcantone

Piazza Lago | 6987 Caslano
Phone +41 (0)91 606 29 86 | Fax: +41 (0)91 606 52 00

They will have to present:

1. the boat’s matriculation documents, issued from the country of origin;
   
2. the prescribed proof for public liability or their public liability policy, with a receipt of the annual premium payment, which guarantees the minimum cover required in Switzerland or which certifies that the owner or holder has paid the premium for a collective insurance to the authorities (art. 106 ONI*);
   
3. the ship’s passport for motorboats with a propulsive power superior to 6 kW or with a sail surface surpassing 15 m2 (art. 78 ONI*).

The boat will have to be technically checked; in particular, it will have to fulfil the requirements of security and navigability, and not pollute; it will also have to be equipped in accordance with Swiss laws (art. 106 and 132 ONI*).
The authorisation is valid from the date of issue until the end of the subsequent month on all waters open to navigation (art. 105 cpv. 3 ONI*). It cannot be renewed or divided in more periods in the course of a calendar year.
The badges will be visibly applied on the prow, on the boat’s two external sides, in weatherproof Latin characters and Arabic numbers (art. 17 ONI*).
Youths under 12 years of age are strictly forbidden to ride any kind of boat.
In order to ride a motorboat with a power not superior to 6kW, the sailor must have reached 14 years of age.

I. Navigation laws

1. Navigation close to the shore (less than 150 m) is forbidden unless you want to dock, leave, park or pass through narrow passages. The fastest route must be chosen for these manoeuvres with a maximum speed of 10 km/h. Ships in regular service, circulating according to the published timetable, are excepted.
   
2. It is strictly forbidden for all boats to approach ships in navigation or to sail in the wake of them or on their route. They must maintain a distance of at least 50 m from the ships in regular service and from towed convoys, as well as from the boats of professional fishermen supplied with the corresponding signals, and a distance of at least 200 m if they cross from astern.
   
3. The sailor must make sure that his boat’s manoeuvres don’t disturb or damage other boats or fishing.
   
4. The accesses and the proximity of landing wharfs and wharfs open to the public must be kept free at all times and not hinder the manoeuvres of the ships in regular service.
   
5. The boats navigating in the opposite direction must move to their right during crossing manoeuvres, and maintain a minimum distance of 50 m between them.
   
6. During crossing or overtaking manoeuvres, the boats must move away, respecting the following priorities:
   
   
   1. all the boats must move away from ships in regular service;
      
   2. each boat, excepting boats in regular service and ships transporting goods;
      
   3. each boat, excepting the ones in regular service, the ships transporting goods and the boats of professional fishermen;
      
   4. each boat, excepting the ones in regular service, the ships transporting goods, the boats of professional fishermen and sailing boats;
      
   5. each boat, excepting the ones in regular service, the ships transporting goods, the boats of professional fishermen and rowing boats.
      
   6. Navigation must be particularly cautious in the following dangerous places:

Lake Ceresio: bridge in Melide; Lavena strait
Lake Verbano: Brissago Islands

The passage under the bridge in Melide of the boats belonging to owner enterprises with federal grant must take place under arch nr. 3. The passage of all other boats must take place under arches nr. 1 (Bissone), 2 and 4.
If two boats coming from opposite directions arrive simultaneously, the right of way goes to the boat navigating south (arch nr. 1). In the Lavena strait, the right of way goes to the boat going to Ponte Tresa, excepting the boats in public service.

II. Boats and particular equipment

Beach boats, inflatable dinghies and other similar recreation or bathing equipment may navigate exclusively in proximity of the shore, within 150 m of the shore itself; in no case can they have a motor attached (art. 42 ONI*).

III. Protected areas

In proximity of the ”Bolle di Magadino” (Magadino Ponds), in the areas “A” and “B”, it is strictly forbidden to bathe or use motorboats within 150 m from the shore. Rowing boats are forbidden within 50 m. Docking is forbidden at all times.
It’s forbidden to park in the areas of aquatic vegetation (reed thickets, canes and waterlilies). As a rule, you should keep a distance of at least 25 m (art. 59 ONI*).

IV. Water skiing

1. The pratice of water skiing or the use of similar equipment is authorised only by day and with good visibility, not before 8.00 a.m. or after 9.00 p.m.
   
2. The pratice of water skiing or the use of other similar equipment is forbidden in coastal areas (300 m), excepting the officially authorised launching belts and the expanses of water specifically signalled for that use.
   
3. The sailor of the towing boat must be accompanied by a person who is in charge of serving the hauling rope and watching the water skier: this person must be capable of carrying out this task.
   
4. The towing boat and the skier must keep a distance of at least 50 m from other boats or bathers. The hauling rope mustn’t be towed empty in the water.
   
5. It’s forbidden to tow more than two skiers simultaneously.
   
6. Sky towing is also forbidden (kites, upward parachutes and similar equipment).
   
7. It’s strictly forbidden to water ski in the following places and areas:

Lake Ceresio: gulf of Lugano between Paradiso Conca d’Oro and Castagnola Villa Favorita;
lake of Ponte Tresa.
Lake Verbano: gulf of Locarno between the new wharf Lanca degli Stornazzi and Minusio Chiesa San Quirico;
gulf of Ascona between the point San Michele and the bathing beach.

* ONI = decree on internal navigation dated 08.11.1978 (issue 02.06.1998)