An inspection carried out by technicians from the Ministry of the Sea and the Water Cycle has revealed serious irregularities in the certification of mandatory training practices required to obtain the Recreational Boat Skipper (PER) licence. The findings have resulted in a criminal conviction issued by the Palma Criminal Courts.

The ruling, dated 28 November, found the owner and an instructor of a nautical school in the Balearic Islands guilty of a continuous offence of falsification of official documents. Both individuals were sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, disqualification from exercising passive voting rights for the same period, and a six-month fine at a daily rate of four euros. They were also ordered to pay court costs, including those of the private prosecution, and to compensate the Balearic Islands’ Legal Services with 250 euros in civil liability.

The case originated from an unannounced inspection carried out during a practical training session for the PER licence. Inspectors discovered that compulsory practices had been certified through the official EXNAU platform despite the fact that they were not taking place, as the vessel designated for the training had been out of service in dry dock for over a week due to mechanical issues.

TDB keeps you informed. Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Government Inspection Uncovers Fraud in Nautical Training Practices Leading to Criminal Conviction

According to the court ruling, the school’s owner and instructor agreed to validate the non-existent practices and later submitted the false certificates as part of the licence application process to the Directorate General for Maritime and Air Transport.

The regional government has reiterated that authorised nautical schools must strictly comply with all regulations governing maritime training and certification. It also emphasised that inspection activities play a key role in ensuring training standards and safety in recreational navigation throughout the Balearic Islands.