TIRANA, November 5/ATA/-Businesses that carry out activities with vessels for tourist and entertainment purposes, such as water motors, rafting, canoeing, diving, etc., must be licensed as a “tour operator” and certified by the Ministry of Tourism.
The new rules for sailing by boat, yacht and for marine sports have entered into force with the publication in the Official Gazette of the government decision stipulating that “for those maritime tourism operators, in the case when the yacht or small vessel is provided with lease or contract “bareboat” or “charter on time”, is obliged to notify the Albanian Vessel Registration Office at the captaincy of the respective port.
The notification must be made by e-mail or by uploading a copy of the lease contract to the electronic system.
According to the regulation, “For vessels with a capacity of more than 12 passengers, their driving will be allowed to be performed only by qualified and authorized personnel, according to legal provisions. While for vessels with a capacity of less than 12 passengers, it is allowed that additional services, board, interior and kitchen are performed by persons, in the capacity of visitor, provided that they are 17 years old.
For water motors, it is foreseen that during the period April-November their navigation will be up to 500 meters away from the shore, but with allowed speed up to 10 knots “. /j.p/p.s./
