Bill to regulate nautical tourism advances following tragic accidents in the Dominican Republic
The Senate of the Dominican Republic gave the green light in the first reading to the bill that seeks to regulate and promote recreational nautical tourism. This legislative initiative arises as an urgent response to the worrying wave of maritime accidents recently recorded in various tourist destinations in the country, with the aim of establishing stricter controls for vessels and water activities.
The approval of the project takes on greater relevance following the recent shipwreck of the catamaran “Don Castro” in Punta Salinas, Baní. In this incident, which took place during a birthday celebration with 12 people on board, 25-year-old Yairi Mateo lost her life. Among those affected was also Sebastián Sanabria, son of journalist Kenny Valdez, who was rescued after being trapped under the vessel.
A security need in the face of a lack of controls
The senator for the María Trinidad Sánchez province, Alexis Victoria Yeb, one of the proponents of the piece along with Ginnette Bournigal, has been emphatic in pointing out that the country cannot continue waiting to implement clear rules. During his intervention in the chamber, the legislator recalled a series of incidents that have marked the recent history of the nautical sector:
- The death of American Gabriela Cartagena Gómez, after being struck by a boat while snorkeling in Bahía de las Águilas.
- The fire of a tourist vessel near Isla Saona on July 27th.
- The recent drowning of tourist Moira Clayton Finney in the same area of Isla Saona.
- Various previous accidents recorded since 2016 involving boat collisions and injuries to bathers.
We cannot wait for another tragedy to occur to take action. Passing this law means strengthening our tourism, protecting our natural resources, and, above all, establishing firm controls to preserve human life.
Alexis Victoria Yeb, Senator of the Republic
What does the new regulation propose?
The bill seeks to organize a sector that, although vital to the Dominican economy, has operated with legal loopholes that allow for recklessness, overcrowding of passengers, the use of inadequate speeds, and a lack of life-saving equipment. The main measures include:
- Establishment of speed limits and strict demarcation of navigation areas to separate vessels from swimmers and divers.
- Requirement of mandatory licenses for operators and seaworthiness certificates.
- Implementation of periodic inspections for tourist vessels.
- Creation of an official accident registry under the supervision of the Dominican Republic Navy for statistical and preventive purposes.
With this approval in the first reading, the project continues its course in the National Congress. The final goal is to transform the nautical potential of the Dominican Republic into a safe and professional experience, ensuring that the enjoyment of the sea does not turn into a tragedy for visitors or local residents.
