Maritime Rescue assisted nearly 5,000 people in the Balearic Islands in 2024

The highest number of incidents was related to recreational boating, with a 12% increase.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Palma de Mallorca, which operates under the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility through the Directorate General of Merchant Marine, coordinated last year the rescue, assistance, or search of 4,898 people, an increase of 81% compared to the previous year, across the 743 maritime operations attended.

In 2024, maritime incidents in Balearic waters involved 340 recreational boats, 25 merchant vessels, and 17 fishing boats.

Maritime Rescue coordinated the search for 146 irregular boats and rescued 2,570 people (115% more than the previous year) in Balearic waters.

Maritime Rescue coordinated the rescue, assistance, or search of 72,438 people (an average of 198 per day) in the 7,842 maritime operations carried out across the entire Spanish search and rescue responsibility area throughout 2024. This is the annual report of this organization, which operates under the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility through the Directorate General of Merchant Marine.

Maritime Rescue coordinated the search for 1,277 irregular boats and rescued 23,928 people (10% fewer than the previous year).

In 2024, maritime incidents involved 2,359 recreational boats, 612 merchant vessels, and 456 fishing boats.

Additionally, the total number of ships monitored by Maritime Rescue centers in the Traffic Separation Schemes of Fisterra, Tarifa, Cabo de Gata, and Eastern and Western Canary Islands, which enhance safety in high-traffic maritime areas, reached 153,596 ships. Meanwhile, 156,286 ships were monitored as they entered and exited ports where Maritime Rescue performs this function.

During 2024, Maritime Rescue monitored more than 238 million km² of sea using its aircraft and satellites, an area equivalent to 470 times the national territory. Additionally, 460 operations related to marine environmental protection were carried out.