The Government intends to set limits on the use of unlicensed boats

The Regional Minister for the Sea and Water Cycle, Juan Manuel Lafuente, has announced that the Government will limit the use of unlicensed boats, a measure that will come into force this summer.

This was announced by the minister in the plenary session of the Parliament, after being questioned by Ferran Rosa, a member of the MÉS per Mallorca party, who called for specific measures to tackle overcrowding on the Balearic coast and coastline.

In this regard, Lafuente explained that his ministry has prepared for the tourist season by "trying to coordinate with the administrations" the actions that can be taken to "prevent misuse or excessive concentration of the coast".

As examples, he mentioned agreements with the federations to "improve the environment" and the dissemination of good practices for sailors, the positive evolution of posidonia, as well as an improvement in the cleaning service of the Autonomous Community.

In fact, the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, which is responsible for the Maritime Captaincy, has already taken a first step and has launched a public consultation on its draft resolution which dictates the safety rules governing the rental of these vessels, which do not require a certificate.

In this way, motorized rental boats of up to 5 meters in length and up to 11.26 kilowatts of maximum power will be governed by this regulation, which prohibits sailing at night or limits the possibility of going further out to sea by more than one mile. In addition, they may not make a crossing of more than 5 miles, sail in winds of more than 28 kilometers per hour, or when there are waves of more than one meter in height or if visibility is less than 6 miles.

These vessels must have the means to be located and monitored by the companies or persons renting them, who must have an assistance vessel to intervene if necessary.