Desenzano Warns Boat Owners: Illegal Vessels to Be Seized and Fined

Mariners in Desenzano are warned: those who kept their boats moored without complying with licensing and maritime tax regulations now risk having them seized and facing hefty fines—between 700,000 and 2 million lire, depending on when they pick up their vessel at the workshop of the removal contractor, which is located in Manerba. This is the directive from the Comune (Municipality), representing the final warning to boat owners who still have illegal boats in the ports of Desenzano and Rivoltella and must remove them to make way for legitimate concessionaires. The confirmation of the start of forced removal operations, formerly entrusted to the Port Inspectorate (Ispettorato di Porto), comes from the same councilor Giovanni Venieri. “Urban enforcement has already ordered removal notices for the boats: owners now have fifteen days to remove them. Those with valid concession permits have paid the annual concession tax and are requesting to reclaim their spots.” The maritime equipment and lift crane are already ready. They belong to Edil Quattro, the Brescia-based construction and port maintenance company managed by the Rizzardi brothers and based in Manerba, which has entered into an agreement with Desenzano’s municipal office following the same criteria and parameters used earlier with the Ispettorato di Porto, from whom they had received the assignment to remove illegal vessels. However, the dockside berthing issue might not be entirely closed. Several individuals, including residents, have been excluded in Desenzano. Still, there is hope. Venieri confirmed that about twenty people voluntarily surrendered their boat slips when they received formal confirmation from the Comune. Why? “Because we,” says Venieri, “provided them with a second self-certification they had to sign, essentially reaffirming what was stated in their application sent last October. Perhaps something discouraged them…” Additionally, there are dozens of false boat owners who submitted multiple requests with only one boat to rent out berths for sizable bribes. This is not new; it’s a long-standing ‘rule’ afloat and on the shore—an ongoing problem that has never been effectively tackled. The reason is a lack of proper enforcement tools. Boats up to 7.5 meters in length are exempt from registration and carry no identification marks. How would authorities challenge someone if they see Tizio boarding Caio’s boat? “He lent it to me for a ride,” might be the reply. Thus, multiple cross-check controls would be necessary, which is difficult during the busy nautical season. However, urban surveillance faces even more urgent and delicate issues, such as clandestine immigrants, pickpockets, illegal constructions, trafficking, and road accidents. “We will do our best to catch the clever ones; I am confident that when we start seizing the first boats, some will get scared…” A final note: last week, several illegal boats were removed from the two ports of Manerba.