{"id":22071,"date":"2015-01-21T17:52:16","date_gmt":"2015-01-21T17:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bwsailing.com\/cc\/?p=22071"},"modified":"2015-01-21T17:56:01","modified_gmt":"2015-01-21T17:56:01","slug":"spanish-maritime-navigation-rate-affecting-cruisers-in-the-canaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bwsailing.com\/cc\/2015\/01\/spanish-maritime-navigation-rate-affecting-cruisers-in-the-canaries\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanish Maritime & Navigation Rate Affecting Cruisers in the Canaries"},"content":{"rendered":"

Very briefly, the majority of costs incurred by the Spanish Maritime Safety and Rescue Agency (Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Mar\u00edtima (SASEMAR)) were being found to be covered by the General State Budget rather than maritime entities — i.e. those enjoying the very services provided. Redressing the balance then, those sailing in Spanish waters are then requested to make a contribution to these services called the navigational assistance rates or the \u201clighthouse tax\u201d.<\/p>\n

There is a little inconsistency in where the law is applied, but all ports and marinas under the control of the Port Authorities (essentially those in basins shared by commercial ports: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas, Arrecife, San Sebastian (La Gomera), Santa Cruz de La Palma, etc) are strictly obliged to charge these additional rates. Non port authority-run marinas are still a grey area.<\/p>\n

Visiting yachts<\/b><\/p>\n

It is not all bad news however; Calero Marinas has worked hard to help with a sector-driven lobby to prevent transient visitors from suffering what is universally considered to be an unfair application of the Navigational Assistance rates where in previous years, an entire year\u2019s worth of rates could be charged for what amounted to only a few days\u2019 visit. As a consequence, visiting yachts from aboard (without a home port in Spain) are now charged a daily rate. The calculation is pretty convoluted but at the time of writing, the daily rate for a sailing (or motor) yacht with 13m LOA and 4m beam is about 1.30\u20ac. Importantly, sailing boats of 12m LOA or less are exempt.<\/p>\n

Home port<\/b><\/p>\n

If a yacht is based in a Spanish port (also considered to be the case after 6 months\u2019 occupancy), things are a little different and the yacht will be expected to demonstrate payment of the full year\u2019s rates.<\/p>\n

Recreational vessel rates<\/b><\/p>\n

This is also charged by day (i.e. a single night\u2019s berthing corresponds to two days\u2019-worth of rates) and calculated according to a yacht\u2019s m\u00b2 \u2013 or LOA x Beam (m).<\/p>\n

As a guideline, for a yacht of 13m LOA x 4m beam) this corresponds to a daily rate of 2.52\u20ac<\/p>\n

Sailing boats <12m LOA and motor boats<9m are favoured, paying a lesser rate.<\/p>\n

After 6 months, \u201chome port\u201d status is achieved, affording a lower daily rate.<\/p>\n

Current rates are as follows:<\/p>\n

Visitors:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n