Avaria al motore: cosa fare quando resti senza propulsione

Ultima verifica: 14 ottobre 2026

Passo per passo

1. Giubbotti indossati, poi valuta

   Fai indossare a tutti il giubbotto di salvataggio. Poi guarda dove ti stanno portando il vento e la corrente, e quanto sono vicini la costa, gli scogli o il traffico navale.[1][2][3]

2. Dai fondo all’ancora

   Se non riesci a riavviare il motore e il fondale è abbastanza basso, dai fondo all’ancora da prua per mantenere la posizione. Come regola, fila da cinque a sette volte la profondità in cima.[4][5][6]

3. Controlla che l’ancora tenga

   Osserva punti fissi a terra o la tua posizione GPS. Con vento o corrente forti l’ancora può arare e lasciare la barca alla deriva o farla incagliare.[7][8]

4. Troppo profondo o mare troppo mosso? Usa un’ancora galleggiante

   Se non puoi ancorare, fila da prua un’ancora galleggiante per tenere la barca con la prua alle onde. In emergenza può servire un secchio.[9]

5. Chiama presto con un PAN-PAN

   Se per ora sei al sicuro, lancia un PAN-PAN sul canale 16 VHF. Avvisare presto dà tempo ai soccorritori e può essere decisivo per un buon esito.[4][10][11][12]

6. Passa al MAYDAY se il pericolo diventa grave

   Se la barca sta per essere spinta sugli scogli o sommersa dalle onde, o la vita di qualcuno è a rischio, premi il tasto di soccorso DSC e fai una chiamata MAYDAY sul canale 16.[13][14][15][16]

7. Controlla le cause semplici

   Se è sicuro, controlla le cose di base, come il carburante. Restare senza carburante è uno dei motivi più comuni per cui chi va in barca chiede aiuto.[17][18]

8. Fatti vedere

   Se hai bisogno di aiuto e non hai la radio, usa i segnali di soccorso: alza e abbassa ripetutamente le braccia tese, emetti un segnale sonoro continuo o lancia segnali pirotecnici quando qualcuno può vederli.[19][20][21]

9. Resta in ascolto

   Tieni la radio sul canale 16, attendi una risposta e segui le istruzioni dei soccorritori.[22][23]

Cosa non fare

• Non ancorare da poppa. La barca può essere sommersa dalle onde.[24]
• Non aspettare di essere tra i frangenti per chiamare. Segnala presto con un PAN-PAN un problema che si sta aggravando.[11]
• Non lanciare segnali pirotecnici quando nessuno può vederli. Conservali per quando c’è la possibilità che vengano visti.[21]
• Non usare il canale 16 per chiacchierare o per prove radio. È per soccorso, urgenza e chiamata.[25][26]

Prima di salpare

• Prima di salpare: controlla il motore, i livelli, il carburante e la sentina, e usa la regola del terzo per il carburante (andata, ritorno, riserva).[27][28]
• Porta un’ancora con cima sufficiente per i fondali che frequenti. Su una piccola barca, pagaie o remi sono un altro modo per spostarti.[5][29]
• Di’ a qualcuno a terra dove vai e quando torni.[30]
• Porta una radio VHF, possibilmente con DSC, e sappi fare chiamate PAN-PAN e MAYDAY.[31][32]

Domande frequenti

Fonti

Le fonti sono citate nella lingua originale.

1. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “have everyone onboard put on their lifejacket”
2. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Make sure everyone on board is wearing their life jacket.”
3. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “assess the situation”
4. Department of Transport, Western Australia (2026-10-14): “If you are unable to restart your vessel’s motor: Drop anchor to hold your position. Use your marine radio to make a Pan Pan call.”
5. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “Your vessel must have a way to control drifting in case you lose your engine. This can be an anchor with a length of rope, chain or cable, or any combination of these, that suits the size of the vessel.”
6. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “The general rule is five to seven times as much line as the depth of water plus the distance from the surface of the water to where the anchor will attach to the bow.”
7. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “It’s important to have the right anchor and cable for your boat. If you don’t, strong winds and water can cause the anchor to drag and let your boat drift or run aground.”
8. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Make sure your boat is well anchored and watch for signs of anchor dragging.”
9. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “If the engine fails, trail a sea anchor from the bow of the boat to keep it headed into the waves (a bucket can work as a sea anchor in an emergency).”
10. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Lost power, are safe but drifting towards an active shipping lane”
11. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “It is strongly recommended you report any situation that may present a danger to life, without delay. Early notification can be crucial to a positive outcome. You can use the PAN PAN radio signal for this purpose.”
12. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (HM Coastguard) (2026-10-14): “If you are concerned about the safety of a person or vessel, you can send an urgency announcement using a DSC All Ships Urgency Call, nominating a working channel. Tune to Channel 16 to make the urgency call:”
13. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (HM Coastguard) (2026-10-14): “Only to be used in the event of grave and imminent danger and assistance is required. Send a distress alert using digital selective calling (DSC), (press and hold the button until the alert is sent).”
14. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (HM Coastguard) (2026-10-14): “On receipt of a DSC acknowledgement or after about 15 seconds, transmit the distress call and message on Channel 16:”
15. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “MAYDAY indicates a person or vessel is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requests immediate help. PAN PAN indicates a safety problem that does not require immediate assistance.”
16. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “If your boat is sinking, someone is injured or life is in danger, immediately call VHF Channel 16 (the international maritime distress channel)”
17. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Motor problems, like running out of fuel, often lead to distress calls from boaters.”
18. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Check the gauges and fuel levels regularly.”
19. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Keep raising and lowering outstretched arms.”
20. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Make continuous sound with any fog-signalling device.”
21. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Only use flares in an emergency when you believe there’s a chance it will be seen.”
22. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Monitor VHF channel 16 and local channels/the harbour master channel.”
23. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Release the PTT button and await a response.”
24. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Warning: Do not anchor from the stern as this could swamp the boat.”
25. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Channel 16 is the primary VHF-FM marine radio calling and distress channel. It should not be used for general conversation or radio checks.”
26. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “VHF radio channel 16 is only used for emergency and calling purposes.”
27. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Check your engine, fluid levels and bilge.”
28. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Practice the “One-Third Rule” by using: One-third of the fuel to go out. One-third to get back. One-third held in reserve.”
29. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “If your vessel is not more than 9 metres long, you may carry a paddle or two oars and rowlocks or any other device that can be used to propel the vessel manually instead of the anchor.”
30. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Plan your passage, and tell someone ashore where you're going and how long you'll be gone.”
31. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Have a means of calling for help, like a handheld VHF or mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.”
32. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “If your VHF radio has Digital Selective Calling (DSC) on channel 70, press the button to send a digital distress call.”
33. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “If a boater contacts the U.S. Coast Guard on Channel 16 VHF-FM or Digital Select Calling Channel 70 and the situation is determined to be non-distress, the Coast Guard will offer to contact any assistance provider (commercial or friend) the boater requests.”
34. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “For non-urgent assistance such as an electrical problem or mechanical issue, call our Operations Centre”

Altre guide alle emergenze

Numeri di soccorso per paese → Come fare una chiamata MAYDAY → Scheda di emergenza da stampare →