Regulations
What has changed in Balearic charter regulation
Boat rental in the Balearics has been regulated more tightly year after year, and the latest changes affect which boats can legally operate at all. If you are going to book a charter, there are three or four things worth knowing — if only so you can ask.
Published on
Photo by RoxFuchs · CC BY-SA 4.0
Authorised berth or embarkation point
The most significant change is that every boat used for charter must have an authorised point for berthing, anchoring or embarking and disembarking in order to operate in the Balearics, and must document it for each rental contract.
In practice this targets one specific thing: boats operating with no real base, picking clients up from any beach or pontoon. For you it means the meeting point must be a legal, known-in-advance location, not an improvisation over WhatsApp the night before.
The sixth register and flag
Spanish-flagged recreational boats and vessels used for rental must be listed on the sixth register of the Register of Ships and Shipping Companies — the specific register for boats intended for hire.
On top of that, rental activity is no longer allowed for boats holding an authorised temporary switch from private to commercial use. Put plainly: a boat is either a charter boat or it is not, and it cannot alternate as convenient.
Licences and insurance
Sailing in the Balearics requires a licence appropriate to the type of boat and the distance from shore. If you charter with a skipper — as with us — the crew covers that; but if you are considering a bareboat rental, check your licence genuinely covers the length, power and navigation planned.
Compulsory third-party insurance is another document that must be valid and on board. Any serious company will show it without hesitation if you ask.
What to ask before booking
You do not need to be an expert. Four questions reveal who you are dealing with: where the authorised embarkation point is, whether the boat is on the sixth register, who the skipper is and what licence they hold, and exactly what the insurance covers.
If someone gets uncomfortable with those questions, you already have the answer you needed.
Frequently asked questions
Can any boat be chartered in the Balearics?
No. It must be registered for charter activity, listed on the sixth register if Spanish-flagged, and hold a documented authorised berthing or embarkation point.
Do I need a licence to rent a boat?
Not if you charter with a skipper. For a bareboat rental you do, and it must suit the length, engine power and distance from shore of the planned trip.
How do I know a charter is legal?
Ask about the authorised embarkation point, the boat’s registration, the skipper’s licence and the insurance. A compliant company answers all four without hesitating.
