Local authorities, all over Europe, are gradually laying down mooring buoys in every safe anchorage they can find and charging exorbitant fees to visiting yachts, allowing maximum stays of only a few days (3 to 5 is common) and refusing to make allowances for anyone in the majority of cases, regardless of the fact that these anchorages have been free safe havens for centuries.

Live-aboard cruisers cannot afford the high prices and often need to be able to stay in a place for several weeks or even months. If the European Parliament will agree to the existence of a Free Sea pass to be applied for by,  and granted to, those whose only residence is a floating one, local authorities will be obliged either to designate certain buoys for live-aboard cruisers only or accept a nominal payment (one to three euros per day, irrespective of boat size or on a scale from small to large) and waive the usual time-restrictions.

Without this concession, the time will come when many live-aboard cruisers are unable to afford to stay anywhere and will either become shipping hazards by wandering about in open water or will have to abandon their lifestyle and, in many cases, become a burden upon their country of origin by needing help with housing upon their return.

This is a human rights issue, as by squeezing sea-dwellers out of every safe haven, the authorities are removing their right to continue their lives unhampered. It would not be sensible to give this concession to people who are only just starting out as live-aboard sailors, as it would encourage every boat-owner to make a false declaration in order to get a free mooring for his, or her, vacation. Anyone who has lived aboard continuously for a period of not less than two years could be said to have demonstrated the need for a Free Sea pass.