Controlling tourist pressure at sea in Mallorca; new service in response to safety concerns

A fleet of 22 boats to patrol the seas in the Balearics

The yacht La Luna that was involved in a fatal accident in Mallorca

The yacht La Luna that was involved in the fatal accident off Cala Bona. | Miquel À. Cañellas

Andrew EdePalma19/01/2025 08:12Updated at 18:21

The Balearic Government is to create a maritime surveillance service to reinforce safety at sea. The aim is to protect the coast and people in areas of high environmental value and those with the highest numbers of boats.

The ministry of the sea and water cycle will create a fleet of 22 semi-rigid boats, twelve of which will be assigned to ports in order to provide "optimal" management and to respond to operational needs. The other ten will be used for inspection and control, focusing principally on charters and recreational yachting.

This new service is envisaged as part of a reform of regulations governing nautical charter activity in the Balearics. The minister, Juan Manuel Lafuente, says this revision is for reinforcing safety, for combating intrusion and unfair competition, and for guaranteeing the sustainability of the sector. The proposed amendments to the regulations are currently out for public consultation and for submissions to the directorate for maritime transport.

Lafuente believes the new service "will represent a qualitative leap in our capacity to monitor and manage the coast". It will provide more efficient and effective action to ensure protection of the natural heritage and people's safety, "guaranteeing that maritime activities are carried out in a way that is respectful of our environment".

The creation of the service would appear to be a response, at least in part, to the incident off Cala Bona in August last year when a yacht hit a small fishing boat, killing 20-year-old Guiem Comamala. There have been increasing complaints about the sheer number of boats and the lack of control of some tourist-related activities. Concerns have therefore been expressed about safety.

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2 comments

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Just Togetpublished | 2 months ago

That'll work.

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tranq tranquer | 2 months ago

As an ex yachtie - Another government service costing how much to provide what reward. Some good things may emerge from this but I am not holding my breath. What is clear however is that this new service would in no way have prevented the accident which cost the life of Guiem Comamala , caused solely as far as we can judge by the incompetence of the yacht captain who acted in a way he himself would have no doubt thought unconscionable in his capacity as an aircraft pilot.

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