Since July 1st, Guardia Civil officers have been conducting checks on the Granada coast to ensure compliance with maritime safety regulations during the peak tourist months. The campaign focuses on inspecting jet skis and recreational boats.
During these inspections, mandatory documentation is verified, including the skipper's license, compulsory civil liability insurance, and registration or navigation license. Additionally, it is checked that vessels are equipped with the mandatory safety equipment for their navigation zone.
The operation places special emphasis on bathing areas, access channels, and marked zones, where adherence to safety distances and speed limits is crucial for the protection of swimmers. Jet skis, for instance, must use the beach access and exit channels perpendicularly and at a minimum maneuvering speed (below three knots), and are prohibited from navigating within bathing areas or in the adjacent 200-meter strips.
Furthermore, jet skis can only operate during daylight hours, with good visibility, and maintaining a minimum distance of 50 meters from other vessels or swimmers. Recreational boats must also avoid bathing areas and use port access channels at reduced speed.
Surveillance also extends to protected areas and zones of special environmental sensitivity along the Granada coast, such as the Site of Community Importance (SCI) of the Cliffs and Marine Beds of Punta de la Mona in Almuñécar, and the Natural Park of Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo (Almuñécar - Nerja). In these areas, restrictions are stricter, prohibiting the use of jet skis and limiting recreational navigation speed to six knots in the SCI, and to 200 meters from the coast elsewhere.
The Guardia Civil reminds users of the importance of checking documentation, carrying safety equipment, and respecting navigation rules, especially in protected areas, where infringements can lead to significant penalties due to their environmental impact.
In case of maritime emergencies, the contact numbers provided are: Guardia Civil (062), Maritime Rescue (900 202 202), Emergencies (112), and VHF channel 16 for boats equipped with radio.
