Deciphering the latest developments at the III Nautical Congress

The countdown has started for the meeting, which will take place in the Telefónica Tower in Barcelona  (Diagonal 00, Placa d´Ernest Lluch Martin 5),  from 11th to 12th of March.

After the inauguration by the State Secretary of Infrastructures, Transport and Housing, Julio Gómez-Pomar, the III Nautical Congress will embark on the analysis of the data from different perspectives: the Spanish market, actions aimed at obtaining legislative and fiscal improvements and revelation of disciplines and sub-sectors capable of boosting the current image of Spanish yachting.

All this will be debated during the first day of the event, between the representatives of public institutions, Turespaña, European Boating Industry (Mirna Cieniewicz, Direction General of the Merchant Navy, the Professional Organisation of the Tax Inspectors (Julio Ransés Pérez Boga), Ministry of Education (Soledad Iglesias Jiménez), and between marketing and sales experts, nautical designers (Iñigo Toledo, Juan Messeger) and boatyards (Diego Colon de Carvajal).

Once the current state of affairs has been debated, the following question is how the sector can optimize its capacity, products and potential?

 To look for answers and to plan strategies for the companies and organizations of the nautical sector, two round table discussions have been planned for the second day of the III Nautical Congress. Professionals from the media and marketing strategists will discuss and debate about actions and successful tools in other activities translatable to yachting.

PP meets with the representatives of the nautical sector in order to collect proposals for the 2015 election programme

The general secretary of the People´s Party (PP) of the Balearic Islands, Miquel Vidal, and the coordinator of the election programme, Mabel Cabrer, had this afternoon the sixth of the meetings with different collectives and associations, with an aim to gather proposals for the upcoming elections in May 2015. Today´s meeting took place with the representatives of the nautical sector. In the meeting the proposals from the campaign in 2011 were discussed one by one - which have been complied with and the reason why some have not. 

Afterwards, the representatives of the sector had a chance to evaluate the work done so far, and to propose new initiatives for the future. 

In the meeting participated also the coordinator of the sector meetings of the party, Maribel Crespi; the director general of the Ports and Airports, Toni Deudero, and the director of IB Ports, David Gómez.

The II Nautical Congress will debate over nautical qualifications and second hand boats

Only a couple of weeks away till the start of the II Nautical Congress, one of our most important annual nautical events, sees an increase in the programme of contents and presentations in the last few days.

Consequently, among the various round table discussions, conferences and workshops that make up the event there are also two panel discussions that, without doubt, are of maximum interest for the recreational nautical sector as well as for the yachting enthusiasts: "Reformative status quo of the recreational yachting in Spain" and "Towards excellence in management of the second hand yacht market".

The first panel will provide information over the current status of the legislative reform process and analyzes the proposals and fiscal news that will allow the progress of the harmonization of the Spanish recreational nautical sector within the European framework.

The planned reform of the nautical qualifications, as well as the legislative proposals presented by the Spanish Nautical Trade Association (ANEN) in collaboration with the Spanish Federation of Associations of Tourist Ports and Marinas (FEAPDT) over the regulation of abandoned vessels, will be the two star presentations of this round table discussion.

In the debate will participate, among other speakers, Fernando Henriquez representing the Directorate General of the Merchant Navy, Gabriel de Sandoval, president of FEAPDT, Pedro Galindo and Joan Carles Ollé, both representing the General Council of Public Notaries.

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Read the complete article in Naucher Global.

The Department of Tourism announces that the nautical tax will be suppressed in 2015

The Balearic Minister of Tourism and Sports, Jaime Martinez, is confident that the State will withdraw in 2015 the navigation tax (popularly known as the lighthouse tax) included in the Royal Decree 1/2014. This reform regarding the infrastructures, transport and other economic measures was approved by the Council of Ministers on the 24th of January and ratified by the Congress in February. The measure, which establishes an 128% increase in the lighthouse tax, is considered by the Balearic yacht clubs and tourist marinas as the "biggest fiscal blow" of the recent years.

Martinez visited Ibiza yesterday and had a meeting with - apart from the principal tourism and economic authorities of the island - also with the nautical associations, which he informed had to wait until the next year before the Government withdraws this fiscal measure: "I transferred our concern not only over this tax, but over an increase of any other tax to the State Secretary of Tourism (Isabel Borrego), and she told me they are already working on the elimination", assured the Minister of Tourism yesterday after a meeting with the Chairman of the Council, Vicent Serra and the department heads of Tourism, Culture and Sports of this island institution.

However, the tax will be collected during the current year, Martinez pointed out. "This increase will possibly be eliminated next year, as it is already included in the State budget this year", he underlined.

29th Annual General Meeting and the VII Nautical Awards of AENIB

The Nautical Trade Association of the Balearic Islands (AENIB) celebrated the 29th Annual General Meeting and the VII Nautical Award Ceremony on the 20th of February. Over hundred people congregated for the event, including  nautical entrepreneurs, prominent personalities from the nautical world and politicians, among them the president of the Balearic government, José Ramón Bauzá and the minister of Economy and Competitiveness, Joaquín García. 

The presentations

Before the start of the Annual General Meeting, a round of presentations by various experts took place. A considerable number of associates followed the presentations, which dealt with a wide range of issues, from the latest changes in the ISO regulations to cooperation projects. The first presentation was given by Agustion Fiol from Lloyds, analyzing  the regulations for ISO 9001 and 14001. After that Rafael Olabarrieta from Generali Seguros explained the ins and outs of civil liability insurances for the nautical sector. The third presentation, by Miguel A. Rayo from Corporacio Jovent clarified the plans of cooperation between the Corporacio Jovent and AENIB to help people at risk for social exclusión. During the last presentation the general secretary of the Spanish Nautical Trade Association (ANEN), Carlos Sanlorenzo, gave an extensive summary of the actions carried out by the association during the past year and started projects and planned actions for the current year.

AENIB meets with the new head of the Council of Tourism and Sports

Last Thursday various representatives of the Association of the Nautical Enterprises in the Balearic Islands (AENIB) met with the new councillor of Tourism and Sports, Jaime Martinez, to pass him the worries and preoccupations of the sector and to find out first hand what measures his department is planning to take to support the Balearic nautical sector. 

During the course of the meeting, AENIB made it clear how important it is to keep in mind the distinctive aspects of the nautical tourism in future legislative processes. Besides, the nautical entrepreneurs requested a summons of the ATB tourism working group and an elaboration of a plan for 2014 that would include all sectors. Another issue that worries the AENIB is that the Balearic Islands might be left outside the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2010. For the association "our aim is that the Balearic Islands will become a priority when the EU decides over the financial programs dedicated to the development of "Blue Growth" projects. This way, projects related to Nautical Tourism can be attended as well. The Balearic Maritime Cluster is the suitable organism in this case".

The councillor Martinez on the other hand informed the entrepreneurs of a new system called Online Tourist Management, and of a plan for  seasonal adjustments in tourism. Mr Martinez also assured that a New Comprehensive Plan of Tourism 2015-2020 is being outlined. The nautical sector will get a special emphasis in this new plan, which will be coordinated by the Direction General of the Department of Tourism.

Both parties appreciated the meeting and qualified it productive. Margarita Dahlberg, the president of AENIB, took the opportunity to emphasize the good communication that exists between the association and the Direction of Ports and Airports

Carlos Sanlorenzo is the new General Secretary of ANEN

Carlos Sanlorenzo takes over the general secretariat of the National Association of Nautical Enterprises (ANEN). The announcement of the change was given during the Annual General Meeting of ANEN, which took place straight after the I Nautical Congress.

Sanlorenzo, a law graduate from the University of Valencia and a holder of different Masters, amongst them a Master of Shipping Business from the Nautical Faculty of Barcelona (UPC). He is also one of our leading specialists in nautical legislation and regulations, the legal adviser of ANEN and the director of the law firm Iberian Yachts Consulting S.L.

Carlos Sanlorenzo will start in his new post on the 1st of May, taking over from Alejandro Landaluce, until now the General Director of ANEN.

The first meeting of the Nautical Sector Working Group

The first meeting of Working Group of the Nautical Sector took place recently. The principal representatives from the nautical sector, AENB amongst them, directors of the various departments of the government and other members of the public administration participated in the meeting. The objective of the Working Group is to make a diagnostic of the current situation of the nautical sector, listen to the sector´s concerns, recognize the challenges and to establish a plan. We AENB representatives left the meeting with a good feeling and believe it can mark a new beginning for the Balearic nautical sector.

ANEN intervenes on behalf of the sector in the Proposed Draft of General Maritime Law

The Ministry of Justice has reactivated the draft of General Maritime Law which ANEN has been involved in for four years. On October 5th representatives of the various fields in the maritime sector were invited to a workshop to present their positions in relation to this draft, before its presentation to the Parliament. AEGY and ANEN on behalf of the industry were the associations summoned to the meeting which jointly made a presentation based on our needs and, in particular, claimed an independent and differential treatment for recreational yachting, compared to the rest of the maritime sector. 

Our demands were well received and understood, so much so that the proceeding of the project has been delayed one month, until a proposal that meets the legislative requirements of our industry is presented. The legal advisers of AEGY and ANEN are working together to prepare the text, specially regarding the development of specific regulations for the charter activity, which will have a separate chapter in the draft legislation. 

At ANEN we highly value this detail of particular importance for the sector, which means, once and for all a legislative separation of recreational yachting from commercial shipping.

Bauza seek the abolition of registration tax of charter boats

The Nautical Association of the Balearic Islands (AENB) was present throughout the day in the Future VII of the Superyacht Conference, an event of great importance internationally attended by the elite of the marine industry to discuss and make networking. The conference focuses on legal, financial, tax, construction and design.

The president of the Government, Jose Ramon Bauza, was the first speaker after the presentation of the day. In his speech he announced his intention to seek the abolition of registration tax of charter boats. He does it because "it is necessary fiscal and legislative framework which we equate to other competitive markets such as France or Italy." He has also stated that "it is necessary to modernize and create infrastructure for location, maintenance and repair of mega yachts" to remain at the forefront in terms of services.

The organizing committee of the Palma International Boat Show begins preparing for the 2013 edition

The Director General of Trade and Enterprise chaired the first meeting of this committee since in March when they announced the postponement of the show.

The Director General of Trade and Enterprise, Cesar Pacheco, on Monday chaired the meeting of the organizing committee of the PalmaInternational Boat Show. This is the first meeting of the commission since last March they decided to postpone the celebration of the 29thedition to 2013, due to the insufficient volume of applications for registration amongst entrepreneurs.

Tourism entrepreneurs meet with Secretary of State for Tourism

40 Balearic tourism entrepreneurs (including the president of Association of the Balearic Nautical -AENB-Margaret Dahlberg) met on May the 8th with Secretary of State for Tourism, Elizabeth Borrego, who informed them about the actions carried out from her department to help the industry. The meeting, held on the premises of the CAEB, also served to discuss the work carried out between the various ministries to enhance tourism and assured the attendees that are open to dialogue with all parties involved and listening to all your suggestions.

The marine industry requires government to develop non-legislative proposal for recreational boating, highlighted at the Development Commission of the Congress of Deputies

The main organizations that bring together strategic subsectors that make up the industrial sector of recreational boating, led by the National Association of Marine (ANEN), do not let their guard down and claim the Spanish government, as a first step to develop the proposal Law not for recreational boating, adopted at the Development Commission of the Congress of Deputies, a year ago. A breakthrough, with the votes for the PP, PSOE and CIU, was the recognition of a productive industrial sector itself and able to promote nautical tourism.

AENB holds a meeting with MEP Rosa Estaras and the deputy Lourdes Bosch

On Friday March 30th the president of AENB, Margarita Dahlberg, presented to the People's Party MEP Rosa Estaràs the Award of the "Public Person'' for greater collaboration in 2011 with the sailing industry ." After that she met with Mrs.. Estaras and deputy Lourdes Acarreta Bosch, who is also spokesman for Tourism, They discussed the problems of sailing in our region and the registration tax. The Nationalists took over the difficulties affect the sector and pledged to seek a solution for the tax issue, which is unique in Europe and in the opinion of nautical employers makes the sector less competitive....