Cancun, Q.R. — The head of the Nautical Associates of Quintana Roo says the operation of pirate vessels is out of control. Associate head, Francisco Fernández Millán, suspects at least 300 boats operate in Cancun waters without permits.
He says those boats also operate without respecting protocols and security health protocols, citing, as an example, the January accident in Isla Mujeres waters that claimed the life of a six-year-old, whose boat sank from being over capacity.
In an interview, the leader of the Asociados Nauticos Quintana Roo said it is necessary for the corresponding authorities to be more strict and enforce order so that accidents like those do not occur.
He made it clear that as part of the association, safety protocols are vital, which implies certifications and the use of safety equipment such as life jackets. However, there are vessels that are not part of the group and operate irregularly, he pointed out.
Fernández Millán stressed that apart from blame or responsibility for an accident always falling on the captain, he also called on the owners to collaborate since accidents put lives at risk.
He also pointed out that since the start of the pandemic, these types of pirate operations have increased, something particularly noticeable during holiday seasons.
Fernández Millán said that in many cases, they are vessels that do not pay taxes. They promote their services online and fail to operate without a maritime safety certificate.
“We lack support from the Port Authority, since with this pandemic and a lack of staff, there are problems. We hope that the National Guard will support us with their operations”, he said.
