Lack of personnel in the Maritime Capitanies causes delays in the management of files

The growing lack of personnel in the maritime captaincies of Spain is generating significant delays in the processing of administrative files, which affects both professionals in the maritime sector and recreational nautical. This problem has been exacerbated in recent months, while the workload is still on the rise. Among the most affected dossiers are applications for ship dispatches, renewals of professional qualifications and authorisations for maritime activities. These delays, which in some cases exceed the deadlines established by the regulations, are causing frustration among users and putting at risk compliance with the seasons of maritime commercial activity. Given this situation, having the support of a good nautical management has become an indispensable measure. These specialised companies can speed up procedures, save time and reduce costs for those interested, thanks to their experience in managing maritime documentation. The maritime sector associations have pointed out that this problem is the result of a combination of factors, among which the lack of resources allocated to the captains and the difficulties in filling places due to the specific training and experience requirements. Likewise, the authorities are urged to adopt immediate measures, such as the opening of new selection processes and the digitization of procedures to alleviate the administrative burden. For its part, the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda has recognized the situation and has ensured that it is working on improving the human and technical resources of the captaincies. However, the sectors concerned insist that a more agile response is needed to ensure the proper functioning of maritime services and to preserve the competitiveness of industry.