Sunday 26 June 2011

67% of emergencies at sea are produced by leisure craft

SPAIN (Agencies) A recent report from Spain's Air/Sea Rescue agency, Salvamento Marítimo, said that 67% of all emergencies are produced by leisure craft. And the vast majority of these emergencies happen in the summer, from mid-June to mid-September. There are over 150,000 such craft registered in Spain, to which must be added boats that use Spain's waters and can call in an emergency. The Bay of Algeciras and the Straits had 37 emergencies reported last summer, at least ten of which involved boats used in kitesurfing and related water sports. The Ministry of Development, under which Salvamento Marítimo operates, has set up a website -in Spanish- that reminds leisure sailors what to do, how to avoid emergencies and a lot more information: Seguridad Náutica.

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