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The radio rules change at the border. Here is who to call, and what to say, on each side.
The radio rules change at the border. Here is who to call, and what to say, on each side.
Picture this. You are four hundred meters off the shore, the engine has stopped, and one of the kids has cut a hand on a cleat. You have phone signal. You also have a boat, and maybe a radio on it.
Who do you call? And is the radio in front of you even legal to use where you are floating?
The radio rules change at the border. Standard marine VHF is not permitted on Swiss lakes. In Italy it is mandatory only beyond six nautical miles, and using one requires a license and an operator certificate.
On a lake, your phone is your main emergency tool: 117, 144 or 112 in Switzerland, 1530 or 112 in Italy.
Position first, then what is wrong, then what help you need.
The Swiss Federal Office of Communications publishes a short information sheet, "Funk- und Radaranlagen auf Schweizer Gewässern", on which radios are allowed on Swiss lakes and how channel 16 works. It is in German, and the edition behind this issue is dated 2021, so check bakom.admin.ch for the current one.
In Italy, the legal obligation applies beyond six nautical miles from the coast, so it is not the rule that governs a typical day on a lake. In Switzerland, a standard marine VHF cannot be used on lakes at all, though you can apply for a mobile land radio license if you want channel 16 on board. For most beginners on a lake, a charged phone in a waterproof case, a power bank, and the numbers in this issue are the realistic emergency kit. If you do buy a radio, sort out the license and operator certificate first.
Every edition chronicles real discoveries, candid mistakes, budget breakdowns, and practical tips from our journey on Swiss and Italian lakes.
The radio rules change at the border. Here is who to call, and what to say, on each side.
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Subscribe to Receive Next IssueIt depends on where you live, and on whether you are on a lake or at sea. On Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore, the Italy-Switzerland convention applies and the licence rules follow your country of residence. On Como, Garda and at sea, Italian rules apply, and a Swiss category A or D licence covers inland waters only. Full answer →
For a typical 6–8 m motorboat, roughly CHF 5,500 to 12,000 a year on Swiss lakes and €4,500 to €9,500 on Italian lakes in running costs. Full answer →
