Exam questions: Legislation
10 questions with the answer, the explanation and the official rule behind it. Part of the PER and PNB syllabus.
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1
En un tramo de costa SIN balizar, ¿qué anchura tiene la zona de baño en las playas?
- 200 metros Correct answer
- 50 metros
- 500 metros
- 1 milla
Why?
On unmarked stretches, the bathing zone is a 200-metre-wide strip on beaches (and 50 metres along the rest of the coast). Inside it you may not navigate faster than 3 knots.
Source RD 876/2014, Reglamento General de Costas, art. 73.2 (BOE-A-2014-10345) · Temario: RD 875/2014, anexo II, UT4 «Legislación» (BOE-A-2014-10344)
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2
¿Cuál es la velocidad máxima permitida dentro de la franja de la zona de baño?
- 3 nudos Correct answer
- 10 nudos
- 5 nudos
- 1 nudo
Why?
Within the bathing zone (where navigation is not outright banned) speed may not exceed 3 knots, to protect swimmers. In properly marked bathing zones, sailing or motoring is prohibited altogether.
Source RD 876/2014, Reglamento General de Costas, arts. 73.1 y 73.2 (BOE-A-2014-10345) · Temario: RD 875/2014, anexo II, UT4 «Legislación» (BOE-A-2014-10344)
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3
Para salir de una playa hacia la mar (o entrar) en una zona no balizada, la embarcación debe hacerlo:
- Perpendicularmente a la costa y a menos de 3 nudos Correct answer
- En paralelo a la orilla y a toda velocidad
- En diagonal y por donde haya bañistas
- Solo de noche
Why?
Throughout the bathing-zone strip the maximum speed is three knots, and where marked launching and beaching channels exist their use is compulsory: this is set out in articles 73.2 and 70.2 of the Reglamento General de Costas. Entry and exit are additionally made on a track perpendicular to the shoreline, with care and at that same reduced speed. This last rule is not in the Reglamento de Costas: it is imposed by the Capitanías Marítimas within their areas, and it is written expressly into article 6 of RD 1043/2003 for self-propelled recreational craft. The reason is the same in every case: crossing the strip by the shortest route keeps the time spent navigating among swimmers to a minimum.
Source RD 876/2014, Reglamento General de Costas, arts. 70.2 y 73.2 (BOE-A-2014-10345) · RD 1043/2003, art. 6 (BOE-A-2003-15477), aplicable a los artefactos náuticos de recreo autopropulsados · Resoluciones de las Capitanías Marítimas (entrada y salida perpendicular a la costa) · Temario: RD 875/2014, anexo II, UT4 «Legislación» (BOE-A-2014-10344)
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4
En una zona de baño debidamente balizada, la navegación deportiva y de recreo está:
- Prohibida (a vela o motor) Correct answer
- Permitida a menos de 3 nudos
- Permitida solo para veleros
- Permitida si se lleva chaleco
Why?
Within a properly marked bathing zone, sport and recreational navigation is prohibited, as is the use of any vessel or floating craft moved by sail or engine. Launching and beaching must be done through properly marked channels. The wording is worth noting: the ban covers anything moved by sail or engine, so an unpowered float is not caught by this particular provision. The same article also prohibits any kind of discharge from vessels within the bathing zone.
Source RD 876/2014, Reglamento General de Costas, arts. 73.1 y 73.2 (BOE-A-2014-10345) · Temario: RD 875/2014, anexo II, UT4 «Legislación» (BOE-A-2014-10344)
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5
Una embarcación dedicada a operaciones de buceo debe izar la bandera:
- ALFA (A) del Código Internacional de Señales Correct answer
- BRAVO (B)
- CHARLIE (C)
- DELTA (D)
Why?
The ALFA flag (white and blue, swallow-tailed) means 'I have a diver down; keep clear at slow speed.' It is flown by boats with divers in the water. (BRAVO indicates dangerous cargo.)
Source Código Internacional de Señales (OMI), señal de una letra «A»: «Tengo un buzo sumergido; manténgase alejado y a poca velocidad» · Temario: RD 875/2014, anexo II, UT4 «Legislación» (BOE-A-2014-10344)
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6
Las embarcaciones de recreo están obligadas a tener contratado un seguro de:
- Responsabilidad civil (de suscripción obligatoria) Correct answer
- Vida del patrón únicamente
- Robo de la embarcación
- Asistencia en viaje del propietario
Why?
Third-party liability insurance is compulsory; its rules are in RD 607/1999. Other cover (hull, theft, etc.) is voluntary. It is worth reviewing the policy's conditions and exclusions.
Source RD 607/1999, Reglamento del seguro de responsabilidad civil de suscripción obligatoria para embarcaciones de recreo o deportivas (BOE-A-1999-9655, texto consolidado) · Temario: RD 875/2014, anexo II, UT4 «Legislación» (BOE-A-2014-10344)
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7
El título de Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo (PER), con carácter general, habilita para gobernar embarcaciones de hasta:
- 15 metros de eslora y navegar hasta 12 millas de la costa Correct answer
- 8 metros y 5 millas
- 24 metros sin límite de distancia
- 6 metros y solo en aguas protegidas
Why?
The PER entitles the holder, in general terms, to command motor pleasure craft up to 15 metres in length, in the zone between the coast and a line drawn parallel to it 12 miles out. Two points are worth keeping in mind. First, the basic attributions concern motor vessels: to sail within those same limits you must add the corresponding complementary attribution, obtained through the sailing practicals. Second, once the navigation practicals are completed, the holder may add command of motor vessels up to 24 metres in length for navigation between mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, including the islands in between.
Source RD 875/2014, arts. 8.c) y 9.c).5; temario en el anexo II, UT4 «Legislación» (BOE-A-2014-10344)
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8
El título de Patrón para Navegación Básica (PNB), con carácter general, habilita para:
- Embarcaciones a motor de hasta 8 metros de eslora, sin alejarse más de 5 millas de un puerto, marina o lugar de abrigo Correct answer
- Embarcaciones de hasta 15 metros y 12 millas
- Navegación sin límite de distancia
- Solo embarcaciones de vela
Why?
The PNB entitles the holder, in general terms, to command motor pleasure craft up to 8 metres in length, provided the vessel does not go more than 5 miles in any direction from a port, marina or place of shelter. The wording matters: the PNB limit is measured from a port or place of shelter, whereas the PER limit is measured from the coast. They are not the same boundary, and on a straight coast with no harbours the difference is considerable. The PNB's basic attributions cover motor only; sail requires the complementary attribution. A PNB holder can upgrade to PER by taking only the complementary units.
Source RD 875/2014, arts. 8.d) y 9.d); temario en el anexo II, UT4 «Legislación» (BOE-A-2014-10344)
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9
Respecto a los residuos a bordo, la normativa de prevención de la contaminación:
- Prohíbe arrojar al mar basuras y, en especial, plásticos Correct answer
- Permite tirar plásticos lejos de la costa
- Solo regula los vertidos de petroleros
- No afecta a las embarcaciones de recreo
Why?
Throwing rubbish into the sea is prohibited, and plastics especially, under the MARPOL Convention and Spanish law. Waste is kept aboard and handed in at port reception facilities.
Source Convenio MARPOL 73/78, anexo V, regla 3 · Temario: RD 875/2014, anexo II, UT4 «Legislación» (BOE-A-2014-10344)
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10
¿Está permitido fondear dentro de los canales de acceso balizados a puertos y playas?
- No, está prohibido fondear en ellos Correct answer
- Sí, siempre que se haga de día
- Sí, si la embarcación mide menos de 6 metros
- Sí, pagando una tasa
Why?
Marked access channels to harbours, coves and beaches must be kept clear at all times, which is why anchoring inside them is prohibited, as are swimming and diving. A boat anchored in a channel blocks precisely the passage the channel exists to guarantee. Where such channels exist, their use for launching and beaching is compulsory under the Reglamento General de Costas; the specific ban on anchoring inside them is laid down by the Capitanías Marítimas, and is written expressly into RD 1043/2003 for self-propelled recreational craft.
Source RD 876/2014, Reglamento General de Costas, arts. 70.2 y 73.1 (BOE-A-2014-10345) · RD 1043/2003, art. 6 (BOE-A-2003-15477), aplicable a los artefactos náuticos de recreo autopropulsados · Resoluciones de las Capitanías Marítimas (prohibición de fondear en los canales balizados) · Temario: RD 875/2014, anexo II, UT4 «Legislación» (BOE-A-2014-10344)
That is all 10 questions on Legislation. Answering them with instant feedback sticks far better than reading them.