What safety gear do you need on the water?

Sources and scope

Belgium — law

Ministerieel besluit van 12 november 2020 betreffende de verplichte en aanbevolen uitrusting in het kader van pleziervaart; Koninklijk besluit van 28 juni 2019 betreffende de pleziervaart (laatst gewijzigd bij KB van 18 december 2025). Read the source
Covers pleasure craft up to and including 24 m in private use, on Belgian and foreign waters, by zone: a general list (annex 1), shorter lists for jet skis (annex 2) and small sailing dinghies (annex 3), and, from the 2026 rules (KB chapter 7), the kit for surf sports, jet skis, canoes and kayaks at sea. Commercial use adds items not shown here. Sport keelboats (annex 4) and the named closed waters of zone 0 are not covered by the Kit Finder.

Bulgaria — law

Разпореждане № 68 от 12 юни 2014 г. на изпълнителния директор на ИА „Морска администрация“; Наредба за плаването и граничния режим … на яхти, лодки и други плавателни средства за спорт, туризъм и развлечение (ПМС № 293/2009). Read the source
Order No. 68 lists the equipment for Bulgarian-registered sport and leisure craft at sea, by sailing area; jet skis follow the navigation ordinance. Some items depend on gross tonnage, which the Kit Finder does not ask: in areas I-Б to III the liferaft rows apply to non-commercial craft over 10 GT (for craft up to 10 GT a raft in area I-Б is recommended), so a liferaft is listed only for areas IV and V. The Danube and inland waters (Order No. 68А), kayaks, SUPs and boards are not covered.

Croatia — law

Pravilnik o brodicama, čamcima i jahtama (NN 13/2020, 52/2020), Dodatak 10. Read the source
Covers boats for personal use (brodice) at sea: hull over 2.5 m up to 15 m, or engines over 5 kW, and jet skis of any length. Canoes, kayaks, pedalos, sailboards and surfboards are not boats under the Pravilnik and have no list. The equipment follows the navigation area in the boat’s registration.

Cyprus — law

Οι περί Ταχύπλοων Σκαφών Κανονισμοί του 1999 (Κ.Δ.Π. 121/99). Read the source
Covers only speedboats: motor craft up to 15 m that can reach 15 knots, jet skis included (most of the list does not apply to jet skis). Slower motorboats, sailing yachts, boats over 15 m and paddle or wind craft have no statutory list under the rules now in force.

Denmark — law

BEK nr. 765 af 20. juni 2024 (fritidsfartøjer), BEK nr. 766 af 20. juni 2024 (redningsveste), BEK nr. 1083 af 20. november 2009 (søvejsregler). Read the source
Covers every recreational craft under 24 m, and — for lifejackets — jet skis, windsurfers, surf and paddle boards too. Apart from lifejackets there is no itemised list: the skipper must carry what the trip needs (§ 4). In competition and water sports the skipper may follow the sports federation’s equivalent safety rules instead (§ 5 stk. 3).

Estonia — law

Nõuded väikelaeva varustusele, määrus nr 70 (RT I, 07.11.2025, 12), in force 10.11.2025. Read the source
Applies to small craft (2.5–24 m) registered in Estonia. Jet skis, kayaks, canoes and other human-powered craft are not “small craft” under the Maritime Safety Act.

Finland — law

Vesiliikennelaki 782/2019 § 108 (equipment) and § 7 (skipper’s duties). Read the source
Applies in Finnish waters to any craft under way with an engine, and to sailing craft with a hull over 5 m.

France — law

Division 240 « Règles de sécurité applicables à la navigation de plaisance en mer sur des embarcations de longueur inférieure ou égale à 24 mètres », règlement annexé à l’arrêté du 23 novembre 1987 modifié relatif à la sécurité des navires (édition JORF du 08/06/2026). Read the source
Covers pleasure craft at sea up to 24 m for personal use or training — boats, jet skis, kayaks, paddle boards, sailboards, kite and wing boards. The list grows with the distance from a shelter (a place where the craft and crew can get to safety and leave again unaided). Inland waters and paid trips are not covered. Boats rented out for the renter to skipper stay under Division 240, with extra kit beyond 2 nm (art. 240-3.03: electronic positioning, a VHF, written fire, bailing and abandon-ship instructions).

Germany — official guidance

KVR (SeeStrOV), SeeSchStrO, BinSchStrO 2012, BinSch-SportbootVermV, Bodensee-Schifffahrts-Ordnung; Leitfaden: BMV/BSH/WSV „Sicherheit auf dem Wasser“ (Dezember 2023). Read the source
German federal law sets no safety-equipment list for private pleasure craft — only lights, shapes and sound signals. Lists exist for paid trips on inland waterways and on Lake Constance; everything else here is the federal transport ministry’s guidance. Other Länder waters may have their own rules (not checked).

Greece — law

Γενικός Κανονισμός Λιμένα αρ. 23 «Μικρά σκάφη» (Υ.Α. 2122/01/2000, ΦΕΚ Β΄ 231/2000), Γενικός Κανονισμός Λιμένα αρ. 20 (Απόφαση 3131.1/03/99, ΦΕΚ Β΄ 444/1999). Read the source
ΓΚΛ 23 lists the equipment for recreational small craft up to 10 m — motor, sail and inflatable alike — and every item must be of a type approved by the Ministry. Boats over 10 m up to 12 m are covered only in part, boats over 12 m not at all; jet skis, windsurfers and canoe-kayaks follow ΓΚΛ 20.

Iceland — law

Reglugerð nr. 377/2007 um björgunar- og öryggisbúnað skemmtibáta. Read the source
Covers pleasure boats registered, or required to be registered, in Iceland with a registered length up to 24 m, including hire boats, and foreign pleasure boats of that size in Icelandic waters (except visitors with a customs permit staying no more than 9 months in any 12). The kit must be aboard whenever the boat is used and checked before leaving harbour. Kayaks, SUPs and boards are not covered.

Ireland — law

S.I. No. 921 of 2005 (Pleasure Craft (Personal Flotation Devices and Operation) (Safety) Regulations), as amended by S.I. No. 349 of 2012 and S.I. No. 400 of 2018; S.I. No. 507 of 2012 (Collision Regulations); S.I. No. 149 of 2021 (Nautical Charts and Publications); for craft of 13.7 m or more the Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules (S.I. No. 380 of 1993) and Fire Appliances Rules; on the Shannon Navigation the Shannon Navigation (Construction of Vessels) Bye-laws 1992 (S.I. No. 79 of 1992). Read the source
Covers pleasure craft in Irish waters, coastal and inland, jet skis included; the Department’s Code of Practice treats kayaks, canoes and paddle boards as pleasure craft too. Under 13.7 m the only national itemised duty is a PFD for everyone (worn on craft under 7 m), plus the collision regulations and the charts-and-publications rules; from 13.7 m (Class XII) statutory life-saving and fire-fighting lists apply. On the Shannon Navigation its 1992 bye-laws add an equipment list for every craft except small open rowing and sailing boats.

Italy — law

Decreto 29 luglio 2008, n. 146 (Regolamento di attuazione del Codice della nautica da diporto), art. 54 e Allegato V, come sostituito dal Decreto 17 settembre 2024, n. 133. Read the source
Allegato V covers recreational craft up to 24 m — natanti (up to 10 m) and imbarcazioni (over 10 m), CE-marked or not — at sea and on inland waters. Riders of sailboards, kites, jet skis and sailing dinghies must wear a buoyancy aid at any distance. Yachts over 24 m have their own annex.

Latvia — law

MK 09.02.2016. noteikumi Nr. 92, MK 21.12.2010. noteikumi Nr. 1171, MK 25.03.2008. noteikumi Nr. 201. Read the source
Which list applies depends on the boat. Sailing boats over 2.5 m and motorboats from 12 m are Ship Register craft and follow MK Nr. 201 in all waters. Other boats follow MK Nr. 92 on inland waters and within 3000 m of the coast, and MK Nr. 1171 further out; canoes, kayaks and paddle boards need only lifejackets (and a PLB beyond 3000 m).

Lithuania — law

Vidaus vandenų transporto priemonių aprūpinimo įranga pagal plaukiojimo rajoną reikalavimų aprašas (LTSA 2023-01-13 įsakymas Nr. 2BE-10). Read the source
Covers every recreational craft (pramoginis laivas) in all three navigation areas, whether or not it is inspected. Not covered: jet skis, craft built only for sport, and — not confirmed either way — kayaks, canoes and SUPs. Sailing yachts must also carry what the inspection body sets for their sailing category.

Montenegro — law

Pravilnik o utvrđivanju sposobnosti čamca za plovidbu („Službeni list CG”, br. 115/2026). Read the source
Covers boats (čamci) in Montenegrin internal waters and territorial sea: hull over 2.5 m and under 12 m, including jet skis. Canoes, kayaks, pedalos, sailboards and surfboards are excluded (čl. 3). The list follows the area your boat is permitted to sail, not the trip.

Netherlands — law

Binnenvaartpolitiereglement (BWBR0003628); Besluit toepassingverklaring COLREG (BWBR0004644); Scheepvaartreglement territoriale zee (BWBR0007914). Read the source
The Netherlands has no general equipment list for recreational craft. Only a fast motorboat — a craft under 20 m that can go faster than 20 km/h under power, jet skis included — must be registered and carry a lifejacket for everyone, an extinguisher and a kill switch on waters under the Inland Navigation Police Regulations (BPR). Otherwise mainly lights and sound signals (the BPR inland, COLREG at sea), plus a name on the hull and, on some busy waterways, a radar reflector in poor visibility. The Rhine, Waal and Lek, the Westerschelde and the Ems estuary have their own regulations, not covered here.

Norway — law

Lov 26. juni 1998 nr. 47 om fritids- og småbåter (småbåtloven), Forskrift 8. mai 1995 nr. 409 om flyteutstyr om bord på fritidsfartøy, Forskrift 1. desember 1975 nr. 5 (Sjøveisreglene). Read the source
Covers every recreational boat up to 24 m used outside commercial activity, jet skis included, at sea, on lakes and rivers — and, according to Sjøfartsdirektoratet, kayaks, canoes and SUPs too. Apart from flotation equipment there is no itemised list: the boat must carry what the safety of those aboard needs (§ 22). Boats used for sport under a sports organisation’s safety rules are exempt from the flotation regulation.

Poland — law

Rozporządzenie MTBiGM z dnia 28 lutego 2012 r. w sprawie bezpiecznego uprawiania żeglugi przez jachty morskie (t.j. Dz.U. 2016 poz. 1557). Read the source
Covers sea yachts used for sport or recreation. Its equipment list binds commercial yachts (any paid use with up to 12 passengers, including charter with or without a skipper and paid training cruises), recreational yachts over 15 m and recreational yachts up to 15 m whose owner has had them inspected by the maritime office (yacht safety certificate, karta bezpieczeństwa); jet skis, small day craft and regatta yachts with a class certificate are excluded. The skipper’s duty to have lifejackets worn applies to every sea yacht.

Portugal — law

Portaria n.º 1464/2002, de 14 de novembro (equipamentos das embarcações de recreio); Decreto-Lei n.º 93/2018, de 13 de novembro (náutica de recreio). Read the source
Covers recreational craft at sea and on inland waters. Not covered: boards with or without a sail (SUP, windsurf, kite, wing), canoes, kayaks, pedalos and other beach craft without engine or sail within 300 m of the shore, federation racing craft, and commercial (marítimo-turística) use, which has its own law.

Romania — law

Ordinul ministrului transporturilor nr. 1.079/2014 (M.Of. nr. 560/29.07.2014), cu modificările ulterioare. Read the source
Covers every recreational craft from 2.5 m to 24 m registered or recorded in Romania — motor, sail and jet ski, private or commercial — at sea and on inland waters. Human-powered craft under 7 m and jet skis have short lists of their own (since 2023 the main table expressly excludes jet skis), and windsurfers and kiteboarders must wear a lifejacket.

Slovenia — law

Pravilnik o čolnih in plavajočih napravah (Uradni list RS, št. 25/08, 3/10 in 6/18). Read the source
Covers boats under 24 m in Slovenian waters, registered or not, including foreign boats (čl. 2, 64). The list depends on the navigation area and, near the coast, on the boat’s length and cabin. Kayaks, canoes, SUPs and sailboards have no carriage list at sea; they may go only up to 1000 m from shore (čl. 54), and boards only from sunrise to sunset in safe weather (čl. 56).

Spain — law

Real Decreto 339/2021, de 18 de mayo (equipo de seguridad de las embarcaciones de recreo); Real Decreto 1185/2006, de 16 de octubre (radiocomunicaciones marítimas), arts. 56–60; Real Decreto 259/2002, de 8 de marzo (motos náuticas), art. 9. Read the source
RD 339/2021 covers recreational boats of 2.5–24 m registered in Spain, used commercially in Spanish waters, or kept in Spanish waters by a Spanish resident, at sea. It excludes kayaks, canoes and other unpowered floating devices, pedal boats (patines) with pedals or a motor under 3.5 kW, sailboards, motorised boards and jet skis (whose lifejacket rule is in RD 259/2002).

Sweden — official guidance

No statutory equipment list for recreational craft — Transportstyrelsen guidance “Utrustning”. Read the source

Türkiye — law

Özel Teknelerin Donatımı ve Özel Tekneleri Kullanacak Kişilerin Yeterlikleri Hakkında Yönetmelik (RG 17.01.2026, Sayı 33140; EK-2: RG 03.07.2026, Sayı 33299). Read the source
Covers private (non-commercial) pleasure boats from 2.5 m to 24 m, at sea and inland. Boats with an engine under 10 HP, oar-only boats, canoes and kayaks, racing-class sailing boats and club sport craft are exempt; jet skis, boards and private yachts over 24 m are not covered here.

United Kingdom — law

SI 1996/75 + MSN 1781 (COLREG), SI 2020/673 (Safety of Navigation), and for UK pleasure vessels of 13.7 m or more SI 2020/501 + MSN 1676 and SI 1998/1011, or the MCA General Exemptions of 23 October 2024 (MGN 599 (M) Amendment 1). Read the source
UK-wide merchant shipping law. Pleasure vessels under 13.7 m have no statutory life-saving or fire-fighting list: only the collision regulations (lights, sound signals), a radar reflector if practicable, the table of life-saving signals and the duty to plan the passage apply. Jet skis are covered by the collision regulations only. UK pleasure vessels of 13.7 m or more (Class XII: registered in the UK, or unregistered and wholly British-owned) have a statutory life-saving list, and the fire-fighting list also applies to foreign ones in UK waters; the Kit Finder follows the MCA General Exemption tables, the usual route (the alternative is the full MSN 1676 list, which adds rocket parachute flares among other things).

Other European countries

Malta, Albania: not verified yet. For these the Kit Finder shows good-practice kit only and never presents it as law.

Your responsibility

This is a checklist to help you prepare, not legal advice. The skipper is responsible for the boat’s equipment and its condition: approval marks (CE or SOLAS where required), service dates and the use-by dates on flares. Rules change — when in doubt, the cited act wins. Spotted something wrong? support@vesselsos.com