The British Large Yacht Code will be applied into the Spanish normative

On the 19th of September the Council of Ministers approved a Royal Decree which establishes the legal system and technical rules for security and prevention of contamination on recreational yachts above 24 meters of length, below 3000  gross tonnage and registered to transport up to 12 passengers.
The normative specifies the requirements for construction and structural strength of the vessel, the characteristics of the machinery, the electrical installation, steering equipment, lifesaving devices, fire prevention, radio communications, anchoring/mooring/towing equipment and accommodation and security of crew and passengers.

The normative also establishes specific criteria for crew onboard, communication systems, authorizations, certifications, inspections, responsibilities of the owner of the vessel as well as of the passengers, as well as conditions for navigation, amongst other issues.

This normative takes inspiration from the British equivalent called “The  Large Commercial Yacht Code / LY3“, developed specially for this type of vessels in the UK, and widely accepted internationally.


The regulation doesn´t affect recreational yachts dedicated exclusively to regattas, yachts with wooden hull and of primitive construction, historical vessels or one-off reproductions of them, nor yachts below 24 meters of length.

ANEN has participated in the definition of the contents of this normative, evaluating the applicability of it and its effect on the sector, not forgetting the security requirements and prevention of contamination that are the foundation of the normative.

Source: ANEN.

AENIB defends the reform of Club Marítimo Molinar

The nautical association defended this Thursday in the plenary session of the Palma Town Hall the extension of installations of Club Marítimo Molinar. The president of AENIB, Margarita Dahlberg, justified this with various economic studies carried out by ANEN and APB, which highlight the great revitalising effect that an extension of the club would bring along. In this respect, Dalhberg calculates that around 150 new jobs (direct and indirect) would be generated, and that the economic activity of the neighbourhood would clearly benefit.

The president of the association reminded that recreational yachting is one of the motors of the economy in the Balearic Islands and the sector collaborates actively in the growth of the community. She also explained that "at AENIB we have worked closely with the Club Marítimo Molinar de Levante in order to reach an agreement about the extension that preserves the environment, integrates well into the neighbourhood and specially meets the demands of security, which at the moment is not the case".

Dahlberg finalised her contribution at the plenum by stating the necessity to open up the project for the citizens and by assuring that "most important thing is that the Club Marítimo Molinar de Levante, as the oldest nautical entity of the Balearic Islands, is not going to cease to exist".

You can read the original intervention in Spanish behind this link.

Port Authority unveils a new innovation platform for the ports

The Port Authority of the Balearic islands (APB) unveiled on Monday a new innovation platform for the ports (Plataforma de Innovación Portuaria - PIP), purpose of which is to identify improvement opportunities in the ports themselves and in their environment and to lead and support innovation projects so they can proceed successfully.

The new platform will be formed as a "new connection point in the port environment for innovation projects". Through the website www.innovacion.portsdebalears.com, which has been presented today in the Port of Palma, solutions are sought for the concept "Smart Port, as the majority of the projects and innovative ideas being developed in the online portal will have the support of the new technologies.

At the presentation of PIP assisted the president of APB Alberto Pons, the director general of the Ports and Airports, Antonio Deudero, the vice-president of the Municipal Institute for Innovation of the Palma Town Hall, Guillermo Navarro, the deputy principal of Department of Innovation and Transference of UIB, Jordi Llabrés and the chief of the Department of Quality and Innovation of APB, Jorge Martin. 

Read the complete article in Europa Press.

Ports IB increases its invoicing by 20% in the first third of the year

The public company Ports IB (Ports de les Illes Balears) has invoiced  4,2 million euros during the first four months of the year, which means an increase by 20% compared to the same period last year, according to a statement by the Department of Tourism and Sports.

This confirms the growth which started in previous years and was consolidated in 2013.

The result of the first third of the year shows a revenue of 1.342.812 euros, 71% more than in the first 4 months of 2013.

It has been possible to increase the operating costs by 3%, after a two-year freeze, although total costs are reduced thanks to a decrease in the outstanding capital and reduction of financial expenses.

In 2013 the income rose to 18,5 million euros, 18% more than previous year. The differential  is due to the updating of concession fees and to the increased marine traffic, as well as the commercial activities in the 42 regional ports.

Last year´s accounts were closed with a revenue of 7,3 million euros compared to the 3,4 million euros in 2012. The benefit will be destined according to good accounting practices for compensation for accumulated losses in previous years, reserve funds and port policies.

Read the complete article in Finanzas.com

13,27 % growth in recreational craft registrations between January and August

During the months of July and August, the recreational boat market shows an average growth of 9,5 %, which together with the seasonal peak in June (28,9%) produces a positive balance for the current season with an average growth of 15,9% compared to the same period in 2013.

By the end of August this year, 3.516 recreational vessels have been registered in Spain, 412 more than in the same period last year.

The charter market is showing a continued growth with a 62,68% increase so far this year, with 340 registrations compared to the 209 between January and August last year.

In the total of the year so far, the registrations of all boat lengths grow, the above 16 meter category leading the pack with +47,83%. The boats up to 8 meters are the most sought after, with a market share of 90,13% and growth by 13,22%  from January to August this year.

The recreational craft market has been growing throughout the summer season, a situation the nautical sector has not experienced  since 2007.

The demand for recreational craft during the months of June, July and August 2014 reflect a seasonal trend with an above the average growth in June (28,9%), when the vessels bought in preparation for the season  in previous months (April and May) are registered. The months of July and August show a more moderate growth of 9,5% on the average.

This information comes from the Recreational Market Report January-April 2014, based on the information collected by the Directorate General of Merchant Navy and published by the Spanish Nautical Trade Association.

Calanova will install a dry storage for up to 80 boats

Calanova will have a dry storage that can hold a maximum of 80 boats. It will be the first port in Palma and second on the island to offer space for boats without occupying a mooring, and for a more economical price than in the water. The director of the sailing school, Juan Birlanga, plans to have the dry storage installed during the winter. Also this autumn the work on the breakwater and outer harbour wall will commence, in order to improve the security of the vessels in the harbour, pointed out Mr Birlanga in his role as the spokesman for concession, Port Olympic Calanova.

So far only one other dry storage is in existence, in the yacht club of sa Rápita, inaugurated last year. Dry storage is a special shelving where boats are hoisted up and lowered down with an automated lift, very similar to a forklift used in construction. With this system keeping the boats always in the water can be avoided.

Calanova "can store between 40 and 80 vessels between 4 and 8 meters of length", according to Mr Birlanga. When it comes to prices, "they are in line with those of sa Rápita, although nothing has been fixed yet", he added. In the yacht club of sa Rápita, the prices vary between 114 and 560 € a month during the high season, depending on the length of the boat.

Read the complete article in Diario de Mallorca.

The Balearic Islands allow charter for non-EU flagged boats

After various meetings between the relevant authorities and the Nautical Trade Association in the Balearic Islands (AENIB), supported by ANEN, the Directorate General of the Ports and Airports, as part of  the Department of Tourism and Sports, has published a Circular Letter 1/2014, dated 26th of August, which allows charter activity for non-EU flagged boats, provided an authorisation is applied for beforehand. The circular specifies the requirements the non-Eu flagged vessels have to comply with in order to get a recreational charter license.

Non-EU flagged yachts will be permitted to provide nautical charter if they are above 14 m in length and it can be demonstrated that EU flagged charter yachts with similar characteristics are not available. The owners of the yachts have to comply also with the rest of the industry requirements, like fiscal obligations and issues related to safety at sea etc. The obtained charter licence will have to be renovated on an annual basis.

With a publication of the above mentioned document the door is finally open  for the non EU flagged yachts to charter in the Balearic Islands, which up until now was not allowed, and which surely will generate more nautical activity on our islands.

Bear in mind that EU flagged yachts now only need to present a statement of compliance without having to apply for an authorisation beforehand, as a result of the Instruction 1/2014, dated 24th of January this year. It was another modification carried out by the Directorate General, implementing the Directive 123/2006 CE by the European Parliament and Council, dated 12th of December, relating to services in the internal market for which necessary general regulations are established in order to facilitate freedom of location for service providers and free movement of services  for the majority of economic activities.

Letter from the president - September 2014

Once again some fingers are pointing at recreational yachting as the culprit for the serious damage to the posidonia seagrass meadows in our community. It is an accusation easily refuted just by a couple of internet searches. In this letter, amongst many other issues, we will also discuss the success of the boat launching cards, which in only three months have raised more money than the old system in all of 2013.

A few weeks ago we read in the Diario de Mallorca (12/08/2014), that the Balearic Ornithology Group (Grupo de Ornitologia Balear – GOB) reported a deterioration of the posidonia sea bed due to illegal anchoring. At AENIB we have always emphasized the inestimable value of the posidonia for our seas and demanded that it should be protected and measures should be introduced to stop illegal anchoring. Having said that, and with due respect towards an ecological organisation that has battled for decades in order to preserve our natural environment, we believe that this time GOB has missed the mark. A study elaborated in 2012 by IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) reveals the global warming as the biggest enemy of the posidonia. According to the study, up to 90% of the posidonia meadows could disappear by 2050 due to the higher temperatures of the Mediterranean Sea. Another study from the year 2013 (also by CSIC) states that the accumulation of hydrogen sulphide in the bottom of the sea is another big threat for the posidonia.