Weekly maritime regulatory digest
The weekly briefing.
Week ending 20 October 2026
Read the fast-scan summary · jump to a region
Med East
Ten Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service notices: five covering firing exercises or firing areas, four reporting unlit lights or light buoys, and one scientific research operation in the Ionian Sea. Nav warnings
Med NW
One French Maritime Prefecture Mediterranean order: regulated waters off Villefranche-sur-Mer for an archaeological operation from 1 to 30 November. Nav restrictions
Tyrrhenian
Five Italian Coast Guard ordinances: two at La Spezia for a survey and offshore testing, two at Cagliari for cable laying and a seabed survey, and a spearfishing competition at Oristano. Local
Southern Italy
One Italian Coast Guard ordinance regulating cable laying and burial for the Sicily–Calabria electrical link, issued by the Messina office. Local
Adriatic
Three Italian Coast Guard ordinances: a Venice danger notice for a stabiliser launch, crane maintenance at Ravenna and works off Fossacesia. Local
Med SW
Six Spanish Navy Hydrographic Institute notices: light changes at Barcelona (Prat Quay, Nova Icària), three data buoys withdrawn off Barcelona, the Gulf of Roses and Cap Leucate, and two beacons removed at Melilla. Nav warnings
Atlantic NW
Two French Maritime Prefecture Atlantic orders: a south channel ban at Brest on 2 November and temporary rules for the Préfailles and Pornic landfall zone. Nav restrictions
UK MCA
The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has reissued MSN 1874 (Amendment 12) on marine equipment type approval for UK ships, removing the entries for specialised reflective firefighting clothing and inert gas systems. Safety
For any navigation warning or local ordinance, confirm positions, time windows, and chart updates with the issuing authority before operations.
29 notices
Eastern Mediterranean
Greece
Note: the same notices appear under two source labels in the data feed (Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service and Greece HNHS NAVWARNs). Each entry below represents a single unique notice.
1274/2026 — South Ionian Sea, Messiniakos Gulf — Petalidio light unlit
The Petalidio light in the Messiniakos Gulf is reported unlit. Vessels approaching or leaving the gulf at night should navigate with caution.
1273/2026 — North Cretan Sea — firing exercise
A firing exercise is being conducted in the North Cretan Sea. Vessels on passage in the area should check the notice for the area and times and keep clear while it is in progress.
1272/2026 — North Ionian Sea, Othonoi and Ereikoussa islands — red light buoy unlit
A red light buoy near the islands of Othonoi and Ereikoussa is reported unlit. Vessels approaching these islands at night should navigate with caution.
1270/2026 — Northeast Aegean Sea, Limnos island — light unlit
A navigation light on Limnos island is reported unlit. Vessels passing the island at night should navigate with caution.
1269/2026 — Ionian Sea — scientific research
A scientific research operation has been notified in the Ionian Sea. Vessels in the area should check the notice for the position and dates and keep clear of any research vessel or equipment.
1268/2026 — Central Aegean Sea, west of Psara island — aeronautical firing exercises
Aeronautical firing exercises are being conducted west of Psara island. Vessels on passage in the Central Aegean should check the notice for the area and times and keep clear.
1265/2026 — Myrtoo Sea, Spetsai island — light unlit
A navigation light on Spetsai island is reported unlit. Vessels approaching the island at night should navigate with caution.
1263/2026 — North Ionian Sea, Zakynthos island — Palaiochorion firing practice area activated
The Palaiochorion firing practice area off Zakynthos has been activated. Vessels in the area should check the notice for times and keep clear while it is active.
1262/2026 — Saronikos Gulf — Plateia firing practice area activation extended
The activation of the Plateia firing practice area in the Saronikos Gulf has been extended. Vessels transiting the gulf should check the notice for the new dates and keep clear while the area is active.
1261/2026 — Saronikos Gulf, Fleves island — firing exercises
Firing exercises are being conducted near Fleves island in the Saronikos Gulf. Vessels in the gulf should check the notice for the area and times and keep clear.
Northwestern Mediterranean
France · Mediterranean
⚠ These orders are issued by the French Maritime Prefecture for the Mediterranean. Links are to the official signed documents (PDF). Verify expiry dates with the issuing authority.
Order 2026-399 — Villefranche-sur-Mer — navigation, anchoring, swimming and diving regulated for underwater archaeological research, 1 to 30 November 2026
The French Maritime Prefecture for the Mediterranean has regulated navigation, anchoring, swimming and diving off Villefranche-sur-Mer for an underwater archaeological research operation from 1 to 30 November 2026. Yachts planning to anchor in or pass through these waters during that period should read the order for the restricted area before arrival.
Tyrrhenian Sea
Italy · Tyrrhenian
⚠ Italian Coast Guard ordinance links may become inactive once a temporary order expires. If a link is broken the notice has likely lapsed — confirm with the issuing harbour master's office if operational certainty is required.
La Spezia 286/2026 — Testing activities in the waters off Porto Venere — navigation restriction
The Coast Guard office of La Spezia has issued an ordinance regulating navigation for testing activities in the waters off Porto Venere. Vessels near Porto Venere should check the ordinance for the area and dates and keep clear of the activity.
La Spezia 285/2026 — Bathymetric survey, 20 October to 19 November 2026 — navigation restriction
The Coast Guard office of La Spezia has issued an ordinance for a bathymetric survey running from 20 October to 19 November 2026. Vessels in the area should check the ordinance for the survey zone and keep clear of the survey vessel.
Cagliari 204/2026 — Cable laying and burial, Tyrrhenian Link project — fishing, diving, swimming and navigation restricted
The Coast Guard office of Cagliari has issued an ordinance for cable-laying and burial operations for the Tyrrhenian Link project, restricting fishing, diving, swimming and navigation. Vessels off Cagliari should check the ordinance for the works area and dates and keep clear of the cable-laying vessels.
Cagliari 203/2026 — Gradiometric survey, historic port of Cagliari — navigation and port restriction
The Coast Guard office of Cagliari has issued an ordinance for a gradiometric seabed survey in the historic port of Cagliari, regulating port movements, fishing, diving, swimming and navigation. Vessels using the historic port should check the ordinance for the survey area and dates before entering or leaving.
Oristano 58/2026 — Sardinia Spearfishing Trophy competition — fishing and navigation restriction
The Coast Guard office of Oristano has regulated fishing and navigation for the Sardinia Spearfishing Trophy sporting competition. Vessels off the Oristano coast should check the ordinance for the competition zone and date and give divers and support boats a wide berth.
Southern Italy / Sicily / Ionian
Italy · South
⚠ Italian Coast Guard ordinance links may become inactive once a temporary order expires. If a link is broken the notice has likely lapsed — confirm with the issuing harbour master's office if operational certainty is required.
Messina 251/2026 — Bolano–Annunziata project, cable laying and burial for the Sicily–Calabria electrical link — fishing, diving, swimming and navigation restricted
The Coast Guard office of Messina has issued an ordinance for cable-laying and burial operations for the Bolano–Annunziata project, a high-voltage alternating current electrical link between Sicily and Calabria. Fishing, diving, swimming and navigation are regulated, so vessels crossing between Sicily and Calabria should check the ordinance for the works area and dates.
Adriatic Sea
Italy · Adriatic
⚠ Italian Coast Guard ordinance links may become inactive once a temporary order expires. If a link is broken the notice has likely lapsed — confirm with the issuing harbour master's office if operational certainty is required.
Venezia 108/2026 — Danger notice — launch of a stabiliser for the vessel DEO VOLENTE — navigation and port restriction
The Coast Guard office of Venice has issued a danger notice for the launch of a stabiliser for the vessel DEO VOLENTE. Vessels near the operation should keep clear and check the notice for the location and times.
Ravenna 138/2026 — Quay crane maintenance, container terminal, port of Ravenna — port and navigation restriction
The Coast Guard office of Ravenna has issued an ordinance for extraordinary maintenance to replace the lifting rope of quay crane Q03, between bollards 12 and 14 of the container terminal quay in the port of Ravenna. Vessels berthing or manoeuvring near that quay should check the ordinance for the dates and any restrictions.
Ortona 81/2026 — Targeted transformation works, Fossacesia — fishing, diving, swimming and navigation restricted
The Coast Guard office of Ortona has issued an ordinance for targeted transformation works at Fossacesia, regulating fishing, diving, swimming and navigation. Vessels off this stretch of the Abruzzo coast should check the ordinance for the works area and dates.
Western Mediterranean
Spain · Mediterranean
These notices are from the Spanish Navy Hydrographic Institute weekly bulletin (Grupo 42/2026, 17 October 2026).
42/264 — Barcelona, Prat Quay — two port lights moved
The Spanish Navy Hydrographic Institute has notified that two navigation lights at Prat Quay in the port of Barcelona, one red and one green, have been moved to new positions. Vessels using the port should update their charts and check the notice for the new positions.
42/265 — Barcelona, Nova Icària Olympic Port — buoy lights replaced
Buoy lights (black and yellow, VQ(3) 5s) marking the Nova Icària Olympic Port area in Barcelona have been replaced with new units of the same characteristic. Vessels using the port should update their charts and check the notice for the positions.
42/266 — Barcelona, east of Port del Forum — data buoy withdrawn and buoy replaced
An ocean data buoy showing a yellow light east of Port del Forum, Barcelona, has been withdrawn, and a nearby black and yellow buoy is replaced. Vessels coasting past Barcelona should update their charts and not rely on the withdrawn light.
42/267 — Gulf of Roses approaches — data buoy withdrawn
An ocean data buoy with a yellow light in the approaches to the Gulf of Roses has been withdrawn. Vessels on passage should update their charts and not rely on the buoy or its light.
42/268 — France, Gulf of Lion, south-east of Cap Leucate — Blue Oracle data buoy withdrawn
The Blue Oracle ocean data buoy south-east of Cap Leucate in the Gulf of Lion has been withdrawn. Vessels on passage along this coast should update their charts and not rely on the buoy or its light.
42/270 — Melilla, port of Melilla — two beacons removed
Two beacons in the port of Melilla have been removed. Vessels entering or leaving Melilla should update their charts and check the notice for the positions.
Northeast Atlantic
France · Atlantic
⚠ These orders are issued by the French Maritime Prefecture for the Atlantic. Links are to the official signed documents (PDF). Verify expiry dates with the issuing authority.
Order 2026-175 — Préfailles and Pornic — maritime activities temporarily regulated in the electrical reinforcement landfall zone
The French Maritime Prefecture for the Atlantic has temporarily regulated maritime activities in the landfall zone of the Gironde and Loire-Atlantique electrical reinforcement project, at Préfailles and Pornic. Vessels off this stretch of the Loire-Atlantique coast should check the order for the zone and dates before passage or anchoring.
Order 2026-179 — Brest — maritime activities prohibited in the south channel of the ports of Brest, 2 November 2026
The French Maritime Prefecture for the Atlantic has temporarily prohibited maritime activities in the south channel sector of the ports of Brest on Monday 2 November 2026. Vessels planning to enter or leave Brest by the south channel that day should check the order for the times and plan accordingly.
Flag State
UK MCA
Merchant Shipping Notice 1874 (M+F) Amendment 12 — marine equipment: UK conformity assessment and type approval procedures
The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has reissued MSN 1874, replacing Amendment 11. The notice sets the UK type approval procedures and standards for marine equipment placed on board UK ships under the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2025, and is addressed to pleasure vessel owners and masters among others. Amendment 12 removes the entries for specialised reflective firefighting clothing and for inert gas systems. Owners and managers of UK-flagged yachts replacing safety equipment should check the revised tables, including the UK/US mutual recognition arrangements for non-UK equipment.
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