The APB approves the first fire ordinance for marinas and water sports facilities
A pioneering regulation in Spain that reinforces safety in marine facilities in the Balearic Islands
Palma
04/06/2025
The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) has approved the first ordinance on fire protection and self-protection in marinas and water sports facilities in the public domain of the APB. This is the first regulation of its kind in Spain, and establishes a pioneering regulatory framework to improve safety in these facilities.
The regulations have been developed in conjunction with the fire prevention and extinguishing services of the Balearic Islands, including the fire brigades of Palma, Mallorca, Minorca and Formentera. Experience in emergencies in ports and marinas, both at the regional level and in other autonomous communities, has served as a basis for defining safety criteria, procedures and guidelines.
The final text of the ordinance was drafted through a participatory process involving various organisations and groups in the sector. Of particular note are the contributions of the Association of Naval Engineers of the Balearic Islands, which collaborated for a year in drafting the regulations, as well as the Association of Marine and Sports Facilities (ANADE) and the Association of Sailing Clubs of the Balearic Islands, which submitted joint proposals incorporated into the final text.
Risk factors
The analysis of the problem highlighted various risk factors, such as the increase in the length of vessels and the incorporation of new interior installations such as galleys, air conditioning systems, electrical mechanisms and other equipment that increase the likelihood of fire. These factors, together with the need for permanent electrical connection and the complexity of maintenance in the marine environment, have resulted in a scenario of greater vulnerability.
In addition, interventions of the emergency services in these incidents are particularly complex due to the geometry of marine facilities and installations. The difficulty in detecting and handling emergencies, coupled with the lack of suitable warning measures, delays the response and aggravates the consequences of fires.
In view of this situation, the APB has promoted the drafting of this ordinance from a cross-cutting perspective, integrating the particularities of risk in these facilities and guaranteeing the safety of people and property. The regulations will also facilitate the intervention of both internal and external emergency services.
This new regulations are set to become a landmark at the national level, setting a precedent for future regulations in the port area in terms of fire prevention and safety.
