Anchoring in the Balearics: Posidonia, Buoy Fields and Protected Areas

RD 269/2022 (BOE 88, 13 Apr 2022) art. 70 recognises a non-EU CoC only if the EU has recognised the country and Spain has an agreement with it. The ministry lists 15 such states (Argentina, Chile, Peru, Cuba, Ecuador, Uruguay, Ghana, Egypt, Georgia, the Philippines, Cabo Verde, Jordan, Ukraine, Turkey and Indonesia); the UK, the USA and the Marshall Islands are not among them. An MCA Master (Yacht) therefore cannot currently be refrended for a Spanish-flag yacht, while an EU/EEA-issued CoC is recognised directly (art. 69). No 2025–2026 BOE agreement with the UK was found, so confirm with the DGMM before advising a candidate.

RD 804/2014 (BOE 253, 18 Oct 2014) art. 7.3 says a private buque de recreo may be commanded by a Capitán de Yate. RD 875/2014 (BOE 247, 11 Oct 2014) art. 4.2 says recreational titles never cover buques de recreo. Both are in force and nothing we found resolves the clash. Check with the Capitanía before accepting such a command; a yacht over 24 m in commercial use needs a merchant-navy master in any case (RD 804/2014 art. 7.2).

RD 1188/2025 (BOE 314, 30 Dec 2025) limits the RD 875/2014 art. 10 exemption for motorboats of ≤5 m and ≤15 CV to private use from 1 Oct 2026. From that date anyone renting such a boat needs a licence or title. The ministry FAQ still paraphrases the older art. 10 wording, so work from the consolidated BOE text.

RD 269/2022 art. 93.3 and 93.7 leave the issue procedure, sea-log validation, certificate model and revalidation to a ministerial order, which we could not find. The DGMM Resolution of 12 Jul 2017 (BOE 213, 5 Sep 2017) still appears on BOE but rests on the repealed RD 973/2009. Passing the DGMM knowledge test is only one step, so confirm with the DGMM how to apply before logging sea time against either text.

RD 269/2022 art. 93 allows 12 passengers plus crew; the DGMM Resolution of 12 Jul 2017 says 12 persons including crew. The 2017 text also required EU/EEA nationality and passenger-ship, advanced fire-fighting and survival-craft certificates, where art. 93 asks for GOC or ROC, BST, Medical First Aid and 50 days / 2,500 nm. The Royal Decree is the later and higher rule, but confirm Capitanía practice for a boat near the limit.

The 'CT' prefix before the registration mark and the 5-year limit on the change-of-use entry come only from the DGMM Resolution of 17 Jul 2025 (BOE 175, 22 Jul 2025). RD 1188/2025 moved the temporary change of use into RONM art. 9 from 31 Dec 2025 without repeating either rule, yet the ministry page still refers to 'CT'. Teach the limit of 3 consecutive months per calendar year as settled and treat the marking as unconfirmed.

State law (RONM art. 9, as amended by RD 1188/2025) lets a Lista 7ª boat charter for up to 3 consecutive months a year. Decreto 44/2025 (BOIB 102, 2 Aug 2025) art. 3.3 bars such boats from charter in the Balearics. The TSJIB refused to suspend the ban on 8 Jan 2026 (press report) and the CNMC appealed on 29 Jan 2026, so the ban is in force but contested. Do not offer change-of-use boats for Balearic charter until the court rules.

RD 269/2022 (BOE 88, 13 Apr 2022) repealed RD 973/2009 and is now the professional-titles regulation. RD 804/2014 art. 7.2, RD 875/2014 art. 5.1 and the sede Libreta page still cite RD 973/2009, and Patrón Mayor de Cabotaje and Patrón de Cabotaje survive only as titles already held (RD 269/2022 DA 3ª). Where an older text cites RD 973/2009, find the RD 269/2022 equivalent and confirm the mapping with the DGMM.

Orden FOM/1144/2003 was repealed from 1 Jul 2021 and replaced by RD 339/2021 (BOE 119, 19 May 2021). The syllabus in RD 875/2014 Annex II still names the old Order 'or the rule replacing it', and RD 1435/2010 still cites it in places. Study and answer to RD 339/2021; Orden FOM/3200/2007 is also repealed, by RD 875/2014 itself.

RD 505/2024 (BOE 145, 15 Jun 2024) replaced RD 1696/2007 from 1 Jul 2024. The ISM seafarer medical is free and valid for at most 2 years (1 year under 18), and crew living abroad may use an STCW/MLC-compliant foreign certificate written at least in English (art. 12). Recreational titles use a CRC psicofísico report, valid 2 years at application; an ISM certificate or recent driving licence also counts, but a CRC colour-vision check is still needed (RD 875/2014 arts. 21–22).

Masters, chief mates, chief engineers and second engineers serving on a recognised foreign CoC must also pass the DGMM maritime legislation test (RD 269/2022 art. 67.3): 30 questions, 60 minutes, pass mark 18, with separate deck and engine papers (Resolution of 27 Jan 2025, BOE 42, 18 Feb 2025). Without it, the interim document is issued at operational level only. Master and chief mate must also be EU/EEA nationals (Ley 14/2014 art. 162).

The RONM (RD 186/2023, BOE 69, 22 Mar 2023) brought in the simplified despacho by declaración responsable from 15 Aug 2025. Since 31 Dec 2025 (RD 1188/2025) that declaration is merged with the master's general declaration and valid for at most 1 year, and non-Spanish crew must be entered in a DGMM database before enrolment (RONM art. 21.3). Crew without the required title expose the boat to fines from €1,000 for embarcaciones up to €60,000 for buques of 45 m and over (RONM art. 50).

Since 2 Apr 2026, RD 191/2026 (BOE 64, 13 Mar 2026) bans anchoring on Posidonia and Cymodocea meadows throughout Spain's Mediterranean waters, and also on nearby sand if the chain lies on them or sweeps them as the yacht swings (borneo). Decreto 25/2018 (BOIB 93, 28 Jul 2018) still applies where it is stricter. Fines follow the Ley 42/2007 bands up to €2,000,000, and no official figure for a typical anchoring case is published, so plan the swing circle, not just the spot where the anchor lands.