A deadly accident in the bay of Roses (Alt Empordà) has reignited debate over rental-boat safety on the Catalan coast. On Wednesday afternoon, a 54-year-old French man was killed when a semi-rigid rental boat carrying around ten people collided at high speed with his jet ski near the Santa Margarida area. The boat fled the scene, leaving the victim’s two sons and one of their girlfriends unharmed but in shock. Emergency services responded quickly, but the man could not be saved.
This was the second fatal maritime incident in Roses that summer, intensifying scrutiny of recreational boating and rental safety. Maritime professionals and environmental groups, along with police, have warned about the risks of allowing people to operate boats without adequate training. The regulatory change effective from October 1, 2026, covers a specific category: rented motorboats up to 5 metres long and 15 CV. Under Real Decreto 1188/2025, which amends the recreational-navigation structure established by Real Decreto 875/2014, anyone operating one of these boats independently must hold the appropriate nautical qualification, generally at least a Spanish navigation licence.
The reform does not impose a licensing requirement on every small recreational craft. Comparable boats used privately or for sport retain a limited exemption subject to operating restrictions, including daylight navigation and a maximum distance of 2 nautical miles from the departure point. Small sailing boats up to 6 metres used for sport also remain exempt under the stated conditions; personal watercraft, including jet skis, are outside the specific changes. Customers without the required qualification can still hire a vessel with a qualified skipper. The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility said the measure is intended to “increase maritime safety and prevent incidents and accidents” involving boats operated under nautical-rental arrangements.
Mossos d'Esquadra Underwater Unit Subinspector Jordi Marín says a lack of knowledge and experience among renters has contributed to more accidents and emergency interventions. The new qualification requirement sets a formal threshold for independently operating the affected rental boats. But, as Marín notes, it cannot eliminate every risk: licensed operators may still lack up-to-date skills or fail to maintain their vessels properly.
After the collision, witnesses alerted the jet ski rental company, which in turn contacted the boat rental firm. The boat’s skipper, a 52-year-old French national, attempted to return the vessel but was detained by police, who had already been notified. The Guardia Civil’s Judicial Police took over the investigation and requested drug and alcohol tests from the skipper, who agreed only to the drug test. He was arrested on suspicion of reckless homicide and failure to assist, as well as disobedience for refusing the breathalyzer. He remained in custody in Girona and was expected to appear before a judge in Figueres on Friday.
Maritime safety has become a growing concern in Catalonia, where there are about 33,000 mooring points, nearly half of them along the Costa Brava. Between 2000 and 2023, Girona province registered 13,572 boats, and 72 of 130 rental companies offered vessels that did not require a licence under the rules then in force. Risks extend beyond collisions: authorities have reported boats capsizing during group photos and vessels speeding dangerously close to diver flags. Maritime Rescue teams have also assisted renters stranded at sea after they were unable to restart their engines.
In Barcelona alone, 3,259 jet skis are registered, the third-highest number among Spain’s 30 maritime captaincies. Palamós and Tarragona also rank high. The new requirement applies to self-lead rentals of qualifying small motorboats. Operators must hold the appropriate qualification, while rental companies must check credentials or provide a qualified skipper. In Ibiza and Formentera, a 2026 coastal-control operation recorded 94 actions, 21 inspection reports and 23 penalty notices between June 22 and October 13. The inspections covered boat rentals and anchoring, as well as protection of Posidonia seagrass and other nautical activities. These figures describe enforcement activity, not national accident totals. Spain’s wider debate over maritime safety and coastal management also includes the government’s plans for maritime barriers in Ceuta and Melilla, discussed in this related report.
Spain’s coastline, particularly the Costa Brava, attracts domestic and international tourists. The tighter rules target the licensing gap for small motorboats used in commercial rentals while preserving limited exemptions for private and sporting use. For rental operators and customers, the vessel’s use classification matters as much as its size and power. Authorities say the reform is intended to improve safety and prevent further tragedies in busy maritime areas.
