The central government eases the 'lighthouse tax', benefiting the tourist but not the resident

Dashed hopes again as the Balearic nautical sector has to continue waiting to get rid  of the Tax for Aid for Navigation - commonly known as T0 or the lighthouse tax, despite demanding its elimination for years, specially after the the government increased this tax by more than 100% last year, raising the volume of protests to record high. This tax is paid by all recreational craft with a mooring in the Balearic islands, as well as by visiting yachts.

Little has it helped to have the backing of the president of the Balearic government, José Ramón Bauzá, who in the beginning of the year declared his support for the cause and who even promised to protest in Madrid. Now, eight months later, it is obvious that his complaints served for nothing, and that despite a modification of the tax in the 2015 state budget, the more than 25.000 vessels permanently moored in the Balearic Island won´t benefit from it.

The tax, which until this year was insignificant, serves a purpose in financing the loss-making Sea Rescue and Safety at Sea (SASEMAR), and the modification of which is included in the Project for the General State Budget, presented last week by the Tax Minister, Cristóbal Montoro, in the Lower House of the Parliament. More specifically in the part dedicated to the Ministry of Development of Infrastructures, although the contents of the modification are not specified.

The changes benefit above all the tourists who moor their yachts in the archipelago during their vacations, but not the residents who will not be affected by the modification. From 2015 onwards the transiting yachts pay only for the days they are moored, while up until now they had to pay for a whole month even if they stayed a shorter time, the intention being to stimulate more visiting yachts to the islands and to boost nautical tourism.

In the meantime, the residents will have to pay the tax for the whole of 2015, which means they will not benefit from the changes, according to the confirmation from the State Ports (which  functions under the Ministry of Development of Infrastructures). This has angered the Balearic nautical sector, which collectively feels that it has been ignored once again. However, the same official sources point out that until the budget has been approved, nothing is confirmed. We have to wait and see if some of the presented amendments will be successful.

Read the complete article in El Mundo.

The Royal Decree regulating the nautical qualification published in the Official State Bulletin (11.10.2014)

Last Saturday, on the 11th of October, Royal Decree 875/2014 regulating the recreational nautical qualifications was published in the Official State Bulletin (BOE). As we have been informing in the recent days from ANEN, the reform of the nautical qualifications is now a reality.

The speeding up of the application of the new regulations is also proceeding satisfactorily, as the category “exempt from qualifications” is valid immediately, and the Navigation License is valid in 20 days.

You can read the complete text published in the BOE, by clicking here.

Source: ANEN.

Royal Decree over the nautical qualifications is approved at the Council of Ministers

The beginners to yachting are to benefit greatly from the reform of the nautical qualifications. Boosting and promoting the nautical activity has been of utmost importance when developing the new normative.

There will be no need to have a qualification to maneuver motor boats up to 5 meters of length, and sailing boats up to 6 meters. This rule will be valid straight after the publication of the Royal Decree in the Official State Bulletin, which will happen in the next few days.

The Navigation License, which replaces the current license popularly known as Titulín, will be valid within 20 days from the publication of the RD in the Official State Bulletin. The other modifications that broaden the scope of the rest of the nautical qualifications and simplify the training, will be valid in three months after the publication of the RD in the Official State Bulletin, a time period required for the Royal Decree to become a Law.

According to the information ANEN has received from the Administration, apart from minimal changes the RD respects the draft presented during the II Nautical Congress. The draft text was agreed between the industry associations, the companies, the yacht clubs and marinas, nautical schools and the aficionados within the sector.

The Marina will host the third edition of the Valencia Boat show

Valencia Boat Show starts marketing the 2015 edition with the sights set on improving on the results of the edition of 2014, which had 80 exhibitors, 130 boats in total on show and 40.000 visitors.

The boat show will take place in The Marina from 16th to 19th of April 2015, organised by the Nautical Trade Union with the collaboration of the Municipal Sports Foundation and the Consortium Valencia 2007. The dates were agreed after a debate  with those involved in the sector, not only in Valencia but also in the rest of the country.

The marketing of the show is about to start with very competitive prices and a discount of 25% to those exhibitors who register before the 31st of January 2015.

Also, with an aim to attract new products to the show, the still unregistered boats in the water or less than 12 months of age can be exhibited without charge.

After only two editions, the show in Valencia has established itself in the Spanish boat show scene, becoming also a focal point of entertainment and activity for the Valencians. The show looks forward to the new edition with optimism, buoyed by the recent good results in the sector: according to the information published by the Spanish Nautical Trade Association (ANEN), the number of vessel registrations has grown by 12,80% during the first nine months of the year, while the summer season was very positive with a 16% increase in the registration during the months of June, July and August.

Additionally, new measures like the Law of Maritime Navigation, a Royal Decree concerning vessels above 24 m of length, recently approved by the Council of Ministers and the new normative for the nautical qualifications, which integrates us to the legislation in the rest of the European countries, will without doubt simulate the sector.

Read the complete article in El Periòdic.

7 modifications by Bauzá included in the European strategy for coastal tourism

The regional Committee has approved seven modifications presented by the president of the Balearic Government, José Ramón Bauzá in the text for “The European Strategy for increased growth and employment for the coastal and maritime tourism”, a report related to the promotion of nautical tourism and other tourist products involving the sea.

The modifications presented by Bauzá, in his role as a member of the Regional Committee, have as their objective to favour diversification of seasonal tourism by boosting the nautical tourism and new tourist products related to marine environment, the local government informed in a statement.

Other modifications refer to the promotion of watersports  within the activities of coastal and maritime tourism, and introduction of traditions and local customs within the new tourist products. 

The modifications for the report were drawn up by the Direction General of Tourism  and the Direction General of Ports and Airports in the local Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and will be sent to the Spanish Parliament and the European Commission to be taken into account when planning changes into legislation.

 

Letter from the president - October 2014

A few days ago AENIB joined the plenary session of the Palma Town hall to express the support of the association for the reform of Club Maritimo Molinar. The association considers the reform essential not only for revitalizing the area, but also to keep alive the oldest nautical entity of the Balearic Islands. In this newsletter we also deal with the recent decision to allow charter activity for non-EU flagged yachts in the Balearics, the approaching Barcelona Boat Show, the adaptation of the British Large Yacht Code into the Spanish legislation and other current issues.

At AENIB we are convinced that the reform of Club Maritimo Molinar is essential. The recreational nautical sector is one of the most important segments of the Balearic economy (the ever-increasing number of new vessel registrations in the islands provides sufficient proof of this). According to the calculations by the professor of geography at UIB, Onofre Rullán (Diario de Mallorca 26/09/2014), the club could achieve 11 million euros in benefit with the extension of the port, which would mean double return on the initial investment. The upgrade of the port would bring along revaluation of the whole area, increase the commercial activity and generate around 150 new jobs (between direct and indirect ones). AENIB has been collaborating with the Club to plan a renovation project that respects the environment, is open to the public and fits in with specific environment of the El Molinar neighborhood. We believe that this project is a great opportunity, not only for the nautical sector, but for the City of Palma itself. The reform should be carried out, otherwise we run a risk of losing the oldest nautical entity of the Balearic Islands.

A few weeks ago the local government authorized charter activity for non-EU flagged vessels in the Balearic Islands. The decision is a result of numerous meetings that AENIB, with the support of ANEN, had with the corresponding authorities to highlight the necessity of opening up our charter market to said vessels. According to the new regulations, non-EU flagged vessels above 14 m of length can offer charters in the Balearic waters, when evidence is provided that EU-flagged yachts of similar characteristics are not available. The owners have to apply for a license and comply with corresponding requirements in order to carry out charter activity. We believe this is a very positive development that will position the Balearic Islands as a nautical destination a bit closer to our competitors.

The recreational craft registrations increase by 12,80% during the first three quarters of the year

During the September 2014 the increase is 6,20% more than in September 2013.

- From January to September 2014, 3.756 recreational craft have been registered in Spain, 426 more than in the same period last year.
- By the length of the yachts, a stronger growth is noticeable in the segments above 12 m. The registrations of vessels above 16 m increase by 48%, and the segment between 12 and 16 m grow by 28,80%.

- The Balearic Islands register the biggest growth up to September this year - 35,66%, with 582 registrations, followed by Barcelona with a 23,60% growth and 419 registrations.

The recreational craft market in Spain shows a total of 3.756 new registrations in the period between January and September this year, which indicates a growth of 12,80% compared to the same period last year.

The month of September, which marks the end of the nautical summer season in Spain and therefore the closure of the transactions taking place in the summer,  shows also positive numbers with a 6,20% growth compared to September last year. In September a total of 240 vessels were registered compared to the 226 last year.

The information is extracted from the "Recreational Market Report. January-September 2014" edited by ANEN and based on the information collected by Direction General of the Merchant Navy.

Nationwide statistics

By length, the vessels above 16 m continue growing most in 2014, with 37 new registrations between January and September, 48% more than in the same period in 2013 (25 registrations). The segment between 12 and 16 m shows a second largest increase (28,80%), with 85 registrations, compared to the 66 in the same period in 2013.