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    Spain · National · Royal Decree

    Royal Decree 1216/1997 · Safety and health on fishing vessels

    In force, as amended

    Current official Spanish title: Real Decreto 1216/1997, de 18 de julio, por el que se establecen las disposiciones mínimas de seguridad y salud en el trabajo a bordo de los buques de pesca.

    Original publication and analysisConsolidated textELI identifier
    On this page
    1. What it regulates
    2. Who it applies to
    3. Key provisions
    4. History and versions
    5. Transitional provisions and application notes
    6. Official BOE legal relationships
    7. Official sources
    8. Explore the concepts in Sabentis Explore

    What it regulates

    Sets minimum safety, maintenance, rescue and training requirements for work aboard the fishing vessels within its scope.

    Who it applies to

    Spanish-flagged vessels or vessels registered under full Spanish jurisdiction used commercially to catch, or catch and process, marine resources. It distinguishes new vessels of at least 15 m length between perpendiculars and existing vessels of at least 18 m, subject to Article 2’s conditions and dates.

    Key provisions

    The shipowner must ensure safe operation, provide the captain with the necessary resources and meet the stated reporting and inspection duties.

    Article 3

    Apply Annex I to new vessels and Annex II to existing vessels; major repairs, conversions or alterations fall under Annex I as specified in the article.

    Article 4

    Maintain installations and devices, cleanliness, lifesaving and survival equipment and personal protective equipment under the applicable annexes.

    Article 5

    Provide understandable, tailored training and instructions on safety, firefighting, rescue, fishing gear, hauling and signals; update them when activities change.

    Article 6

    Check specialist training for anyone who may command the vessel, including accident and disease prevention, stability, navigation and communications.

    Article 7

    History and versions

    Initial publication: 07/08/1997 · Initial entry into force: 07/10/1997

    BOE-A-1997-17825

    Royal Decree 1696/2012 amended the definition of shipowner in Article 2(6), with effect from 23 December 2012. Order PJC/1424/2025 was issued under the decree on maritime medical training and replaced the 2004 order from 12 December 2025. Order PRE/646/2004 implemented maritime medical training programmes. This is a historical reference: it was expressly repealed by Order PJC/1424/2025.

    Royal Decree 1696/2012 amended the definition of shipowner in Article 2(6), with effect from 23 December 2012.

    Publication: 22/12/2012 · Effective date: 23/12/2012

    BOE-A-2012-15472

    Order PJC/1424/2025 was issued under the decree on maritime medical training and replaced the 2004 order from 12 December 2025.

    BOE-A-2025-25271

    Order PRE/646/2004 implemented maritime medical training programmes. This is a historical reference: it was expressly repealed by Order PJC/1424/2025.

    BOE-A-2004-4535
    All text versions recorded by the BOE

    Publication and effective dates are different. The table retains the dates and provisions of each recorded text version; it does not treat future transitional deadlines as requirements already applicable.

    PublicationEffective dateOfficial referenceAffected provisions
    07/08/199707/10/1997BOE-A-1997-17825Preamble, Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4, Article 5, Article 6, Article 7, Article 8, Additional provision sole, Transitional provision sole, Repealing provision sole, Final provision first, Final provision second, Final provision third, Signature, Annex I, Annex II, Annex III, Annex IV
    22/12/201223/12/2012BOE-A-2012-15472Article 2

    Transitional provisions and application notes

    • Existing vessels had to comply with Annex II by 23 November 2002; this is not a future deadline.

      Transitional provision sole

    • For maritime medical training, Order PJC/1424/2025 replaced and expressly repealed Order PRE/646/2004 from 12 December 2025. The 2004 reference is retained as history, not as current legislation.

      Official reference

    Official BOE legal relationships

    Relationships may affect only specific provisions. They do not by themselves determine the status of the whole instrument: consult its history and application notes.

    Earlier references (5)
    Subsequent references (3)

    Official sources

    Official sources checked on 14/11/2026. Updating a database record does not by itself mean that the legislation has been amended.

    1. Original publication and analysis
    2. Consolidated text
    3. ELI identifier
    4. BOE-A-2025-25271

    Based on data from Spain’s Official State Gazette (BOE). Consolidated text is informational: consult the official publication for legal purposes. The history includes all subsequent relationships in the retrieved BOE record, without guaranteeing coverage of all judgments, complementary legislation or implied changes.

    The official title is retained in Spanish. English and Catalan texts are editorial summaries, not official translations of the legislation.

    Editorial information

    Publication date: 14 November 2026.

    Editorial responsibility: Sabentis editorial team.

    Editorial review by Pablo RodríguezLinkedIn

    Executive Vice President of the International ORP Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of Sabentis.

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