Published on 6 January 2025

Leisure and sport

The Swiss Maritime Navigation Office (SMNO) is responsible for recreational craft used for sport or leisure purposes at sea or in foreign inland waterways and coastal waters. This includes registering and deleting yachts (CE design categories A and B) from the official register as well as issuing and renewing certificates of registry for yachts. The SMNO is also in charge of issuing, renewing and cancelling of flag confirmations for coastal boats (CE design category C).

Difference between a yacht and a coastal boat

A boat may be registered as a yacht if it is seaworthy. To be considered seaworthy, yachts are equipped according to the guidelines of the SMNO and are generally expected to have living quarters and an automatic bilge pump in the cockpit. The certificate of registry authorises these yachts to sail at sea and in foreign waters, insofar as this is permitted by the local law that applies.

Coastal boats only need to be seaworthy to a limited extent, which is why they are not subject to the same technical requirements as yachts. They require a confirmation of flag registration to sail in foreign inland waterways and coastal waters, insofar as this is permitted by the local law that applies.