The Government launches the summer nautical safety campaign ‘In jet ski navigation, common sense’

It was presented today, Friday 5th of June, in Puerto Sherry (Cádiz) under the slogan ‘In jet ski navigation, common sense’.

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has today presented in El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, the Summer Nautical Safety Campaign, which this year aims to raise awareness about the need to comply with established safety rules for jet skis and to promote civic behaviour among users.

The Summer Nautical Safety Campaign is promoted by the Directorate-General of the Merchant Navy and Maritime Rescue under the slogan ‘In jet ski navigation, common sense’ and the hashtag #CommonSenseAtSea, and is carried out in collaboration with the Spanish Nautical Business Association (ANEN) and the Civil Guard.

The aim is to reduce the number of emergencies, which in 2025 increased by 11% compared to the previous year, as well as the sanctioning procedures opened by maritime authorities, which in 2025 accounted for over 20% of all serious sanctioning procedures handled.

These cases are mostly related to behaviours such as navigating in marked bathing areas, navigating in unmarked bathing areas at excessive speed and performing reckless manoeuvres that endanger swimmers; excessive speed in designated entry and exit channels for vessels; operating a jet ski without the required certification; minors operating jet skis without authorisation; or operating without passengers wearing approved life jackets, among others.

During the event, streamed online and held at the Puerto Sherry Yacht Club, the Director-General of the Merchant Navy, Ana Núñez, presented the campaign’s main video, which includes guidance on how to behave when operating a jet ski. She reiterated that such campaigns remain necessary while emergencies continue to occur. The aim is to issue “a call for attention to all those who enjoy the sea during the summer months without being aware that their leisure takes place in a shared environment, and that their behaviour when operating a jet ski, a paddle surf board or a recreational boat affects others’ enjoyment”.

Ana Núñez also announced upcoming developments in the future General Regulation on Recreational Navigation currently being finalised by the Merchant Navy. As she explained, “because we understand that training is directly linked to safety, the new regulation will introduce a specific navigation licence for jet skis. In addition, in recreational boating qualifications, the authorisation to operate jet skis will shift from a basic entitlement to a complementary one, meaning that specific practical training on jet skis will be required. We consider this an important step forward in terms of safety.”

A roundtable discussion also took place, featuring the Director of Maritime Rescue, José Luis García Lena; Civil Guard Commander Martín Miguel Moreno; the Maritime Captain of Cádiz, Luciano Grandal; and the Director of Puerto Sherry, Nicolás Figueras. The discussion highlighted the importance of understanding “common sense” as a comprehensive concept that includes both knowledge of safety regulations related to jet skis and respect for civic behaviour in shared spaces.

The campaign will be disseminated through the social media channels of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (@transportesgob) and Maritime Rescue (@salvamentogob). The hashtag #SensatezEnElMar has been set as its identifier, alongside previous campaign hashtags such as #LaLeyDelMar, #Salvate, #SeguridadNautica or #Riesgos0.

The Ministry and Maritime Rescue websites will also serve as information and consultation platforms, where users can download a recreational boating guide, an informational leaflet, and an infographic with “essential” navigation guidelines in both Spanish and English.

In addition, Maritime Authority offices and Maritime Rescue centres across the Spanish coastline will carry out awareness-raising activities to promote compliance with regulations.

Over the past five years, the Directorate-General of the Merchant Navy has detected a significant increase in serious offences involving jet skis. In 2020, administrative cases related to jet skis accounted for 12% of the total. In 2021, this figure almost doubled to nearly 23%, and since then it has remained above 20%.

Reports are issued to maritime authorities through inspections carried out by the Civil Guard’s Maritime Service, which in 2025 inspected 1,965 jet skis and proposed 692 for sanctions. This means that approximately one in every three jet ski inspections results in a proposed fine.