Lake Garda Safety Boost with New Guardia Costiera Patrol Boat

Several years ago, safety on the lake improved: a patrol boat from the Guardia costiera (stationed in Bogliaco, which will become operational today, June 15), four Carabinieri units (in Riva, Salò, Desenzano, and Torri del Benaco), two from the Guardia di Finanza (in Riva and Salò), two from the Vigili del Fuoco (in Riva and Bardolino), and two from the Polizia (in Peschiera and Riva).

Adding to these eleven units are vessels operated by the Volontari del Garda (in Salò and Sirmione), the Protezione civile (in Riva and Sirmione), and the inflatables from various sailing clubs that, on numerous occasions, have provided assistance to stranded boats.

An important deployment, even though service coverage throughout the day is guaranteed only by the Guardia costiera after 1999, following the tragic incident involving an English family.

The patrol boat provided by the Ministero dei Trasporti e della Navigazione addressed two significant shortcomings. Firstly, unlike the vessels used by other law enforcement agencies, it can carry out rescue operations under any weather conditions.

Secondly, it ensures 24-hour service coverage (thanks to the presence of 12 sailors working in three shifts of three men each), unlike Carabinieri, Police, and Guardia di Finanza units, each of which is staffed with only one crew working for seven to eight hours per day.

The patrol boat is no longer the same as the 2000 model. It is a model 859 (rather than 832). It costs one billion lire. It measures 12.73 meters in length, 4.3 meters in width, weighs 12 tons, and is self-righting.

Equipped with advanced instrumentation and rescue rafts, it is powered by two Isotta Fraschini engines of 400 KW each, reaching a speed of 30 knots (one knot equals 1852 meters), with a range of 160 miles.

From Bogliaco, it can reach the southern and northern extremes of the lake in less than twenty minutes. The two phone numbers where boaters in genuine danger can contact for assistance are 1530 or 800.484848.

“This service is still considered experimental,” explains Lucio Ceresa, secretary-general of the Comunità. “A legislative provision is lacking that authorizes the presence of the Marina militare in internal waters.

In Parliament, there is a bill that provides for the (permanent) presence of the Guardia costiera on Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore, and Lake Como. The mid-May elections halted the process, but we are hopeful for a prompt approval.”