Bill that gathers all maritime navigation rules into one law

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1. The bill would regulate all legal situations arising from maritime navigation. If no written rule applies, the uses of navigation come first, then the principles of the bill itself.
2. It defines the Spanish maritime zones where its rules apply: internal waters, the territorial sea (up to 12 nautical miles), the contiguous zone (up to 24 miles) and the exclusive economic zone (up to 200 miles).
3. It would regulate ships entering and leaving Spanish ports. Every ship needs a departure authorization, called despachoDespacho Departure clearance: the maritime Administration's authorization every ship needs before setting out to navigate., and entry can be denied for public health or safety risks.
4. It bans acts of pollution in Spanish navigation zones and requires the Administration to keep a national plan to prepare for and fight marine pollution.
5. It distinguishes three vessels: the ship (with a continuous deck and 24 meters or more in length), the boat (smaller or without a continuous deck) and the naval artifact (a floating structure fixed in place, not meant to navigate).
6. It defines the shipowner (armadorArmador Shipowner in the legal sense: whoever possesses the ship and runs it for navigation under their own responsibility, even if not the owner.) as whoever possesses the ship and uses it for navigation, whether or not they own it. The shipowner is liable to third parties for the acts of the captain and crew.
7. It regulates chartering, meaning the maritime carriage of goods, and sets the carrier's liability for loss, damage or delay, with compensation limits and a one-year claim period.
8. It would allow preventive arrest of Spanish and foreign ships to secure maritime claims. To order the arrest, security of at least 15 percent of the claimed amount is required.

Who it affects

• Shipowners, shipping companies and captains: They must follow the rules on navigation policing, departure clearance, safety and documentation, and they answer to third parties for the crew's acts.
• Companies carrying goods or passengers by sea: They fall under a unified liability regime for loss, damage or delay, with capped compensation.
• Shippers and cargo receivers: They get clear rules to claim against the carrier and the port operator for damage, loss or delay.
• Ship passengers: They have recognized rights to information, assistance and compensation for delays, and the carrier must carry mandatory insurance on ships with more than twelve passengers.
• Insurers and pollution victims: Liability insurance for pollution is mandatory, and victims have a direct action against the insurer.

Words worth knowing

Eslora

The length of a ship, measured from bow to stern.

Fletamento

Chartering: a contract under which someone carries goods by sea for a price called flete (freight).

Conocimiento de embarque

Bill of lading: a document proving the carrier received the goods, allowing its holder to claim them at destination.

Armador

Shipowner in the legal sense: whoever possesses the ship and runs it for navigation under their own responsibility, even if not the owner.

Despacho

Departure clearance: the maritime Administration's authorization every ship needs before setting out to navigate.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries