Olbia / Costa Smeralda: boating safety

Harbour and marinas

The Capitaneria di porto (harbour office) of La Maddalena governs the waters of the La Maddalena archipelago. It is at Località Punta Chiara, La Maddalena; its office phone is 0789 730632.

Marina di Porto Cervo works on VHF channel 09, and its mooring assistance runs 24 hours a day.

Local rules

To sail, moor, anchor or stop within 300 m of the coast in the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park, you need a park access ticket (authorisation). Buy it before entering park waters to avoid fines. A permit bought from park control staff on the water costs 40% more; buying online gives a 5% reduction.

In the waters of the La Maddalena harbour office, and especially inside the national park, the speed limit is 7 knots within 500 m of the coast and 10 knots between 500 m and 1,000 m, where boats must also stay in displacement mode (not planing).

In the archipelago, anchoring on Posidonia seagrass meadows or other sensitive seabed mapped by the park is banned.

The park's MA zones are full marine reserves: navigating, entering, stopping, mooring and anchoring are all banned there. The ban on the Spiaggia Rosa (Budelli) applies all year.

Hospital and medical

The nearest major emergency department is the Pronto Soccorso of Olbia (first-level DEA, the hub for Gallura) at Ospedale Giovanni Paolo II, via Bazzoni-Sircana 2/2A, Olbia.