Marine Rescue has assisted more than 200 recreational boats this summer in the Balearics

Marine Rescue attended 219 recreational boating emergencies in the Balearic Islands between 15th of June and 15th of September, 18.2% less than in the same period of last year. In addition, the Marine Rescue team has assisted 672 people during this summer period.

Throughout Spain, the organization attended 3,050 emergencies, of which 1,510 (almost 50%) were related to recreational boats, according to the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda. The number of people affected in emergencies involving recreational craft was 3,644.

The causes of emergencies on recreational craft were mainly structural or mechanical failure, which accounted for 78% of the total number of cases, and grounding or running aground, which accounted for 6%. The remaining 16% were due to multiple other causes such as fire, lack of news, sinking and waterways.

Marine Rescue has warned that many of these emergencies could be avoided with good maintenance and the foresight to carry out safety checks before setting sail, and has warned that there are still emergencies that can have fatal consequences due to causes as avoidable as running out of fuel at sea.

The assisted recreational boats  supposed in total 48%, due to the 5,829 vessels assisted last year, 2,826 were recreational craft; 508 merchant vessels (9%); 406 fishing vessels (7%), and 2,089 were in the category of other vessels - boats, floating craft, pontoons, etc., accounting for 36%.

For this reason, the 2023 recreational boating safety campaign, with the slogan 'Respect the rules, enjoy safely', aims to promote prevention and safety among recreational boaters and water sports users.