The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Santander, which depends on the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility through the General Directorate of Merchant Marine, coordinated last year the rescue, assistance or search of 214 people, which is 34% more than the previous year, in the 159 maritime actions attended.
The annual balance sheet was released today by the Government delegate in Cantabria, Eugenia Gómez de Diego, after a visit to the base of Santander and a meeting with its staff accompanied by the head of the Center, Germán Erostarbe, and the maritime captain César Díez Herrera.
Gómez de Diego has expressed “pride” for the “professionalism, high training and quality service” provided by Salvamento Marítimo, which, as he has pointed out, “is a reference at an international level”. “Salvamento Maritime has a team of highly qualified and experienced professionals, who work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to ensure safety at sea,” he said.
In addition to the headquarters, the delegate has also visited the base where the maritime means available to Salvamento Marítima in Cantabria are located, including a fast intervention vessel, as well as the vessel María de Maeztu (BS-13) which has different bases and which serves on the Cantabrian Coast, in the range from Unquera to Passages. In addition, Salvamento Maritimo has a Helimer rescue helicopter at the Seve Ballesteros airport. Regarding the personnel, the Santander Center has 38 workers among ground personnel and crew
Pollution prevention
In addition to search and rescue operations in the assigned areas of responsibility, Salvamento Marítimo has assigned other tasks such as the fight against maritime pollution, the control of maritime traffic and assistance to boats.
In 2023, 51 recreational boats, 9 merchant vessels and 12 fishing vessels were involved in maritime incidents in Cantabrian waters, and the Santander Centre controlled a total of 4,874 vessels at port entrances and exits.