Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of June 10, 2026, from the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs — Service of summons in administrative litigation 1/37/2026 |
|---|---|
| Challenged regulation | Royal Decree 1188/2025, of December 26 (amends Maritime Affairs regulations) |
| Publication in BOE | June 29, 2026 |
| Effective date of summons | June 29, 2026 |
| Deadline to appear | 9 business days from June 30, 2026 |
| Judicial body | Supreme Court, Third Chamber, Third Section |
| Claimant | Associació de Lloguer d'Embarcacions Turístiques de la Costa Brava |
| Affected parties | Companies and individuals with interest in Maritime Affairs regulations and tourist boat rental |
| Category | Regulatory Changes |
| Year | 2026 |
The Spanish maritime sector has a very narrow window of time to act. The Associació de Lloguer d'Embarcacions Turístiques de la Costa Brava has filed an administrative litigation challenge before the Supreme Court against the Royal Decree 1188/2025, of December 26, which amends Maritime Affairs regulations. The General Directorate of Maritime Affairs has published in the BOE of June 29, 2026 a formal summons to all potential interested parties to appear in the proceedings.
The case number is 1/37/2026 and it is being processed before the Third Chamber, Third Section of the Supreme Court. The deadline is nine business days counted from the day following publication, that is, from June 30, 2026. Anyone who fails to act within that deadline loses the possibility of defending their rights in this proceeding.
What does this regulation establish?
The Resolution from the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs does not modify any operational regulation of the sector in itself. Its function is procedural: publicly notify all potential interested parties that there is an ongoing judicial challenge against RD 1188/2025 and that they have the right to join the proceedings if they have subjective rights or a legitimate interest in its outcome.
The mechanism is the usual one in Spanish administrative litigation: when a general provision is challenged before the Supreme Court, the Administration must publicly summon those who may be affected by the ruling. This is done through publication in the BOE, and the deadline to act is brief and non-extendable.
What is at stake is the Royal Decree 1188/2025, of December 26 itself, which amends Maritime Affairs regulations. If the Supreme Court upholds the challenge, it could annul that Royal Decree in whole or in part, which would affect all companies operating under its provisions. If it dismisses it, RD 1188/2025 will remain in force. In either case, companies that have not appeared will not be able to influence the proceedings or appeal the ruling.
Economic and operational impact
The direct economic impact of this resolution is not immediate: it does not generate new fees or modify prices. However, the indirect impact can be very significant for maritime sector companies:
- If the Supreme Court annuls RD 1188/2025: companies that have adapted their operations to that Royal Decree will have to reverse changes, which may involve operational, administrative and compliance costs.
- If the Supreme Court confirms RD 1188/2025: companies that have not appeared will have lost the opportunity to defend their interests in the proceedings.
- Cost of not acting: being excluded from the proceedings means you cannot argue, cannot submit evidence and cannot appeal the final ruling.
- Cost of appearing: it involves hiring legal representation (solicitor and lawyer) before the Supreme Court, which has an economic cost that each company must weigh against the risk of not doing so.
The decision to appear or not must be made in the coming days, with advice from legal specialists in administrative and maritime law.
Who does it affect?
- Tourist boat rental companies (yacht charter, bareboat charter, crewed charter).
- Maritime sector associations with interest in Maritime Affairs regulations.
- Shipowners and vessel owners operating under RD 1188/2025 regulations.
- Maritime tourism companies offering regulated marine activities.
- Sports ports and marinas whose activity is linked to the challenged regulations.
- Individuals with recognized subjective rights or affected by RD 1188/2025.
- Legal advisors and consultants representing maritime sector clients.
Practical example
A tourist boat rental company on the Costa Brava operating under the conditions established by RD 1188/2025 —for example, with specific crew qualification requirements, insurance or navigation zones— has a direct legitimate interest in the outcome of the challenge.
If that company does not appear before the deadline of 9 business days from June 30, 2026 expires, it will not be able to argue before the Supreme Court that the annulment of RD 1188/2025 harms it (for example, if it had invested in adapting to its requirements) nor that its maintenance benefits it. It will be excluded from the proceedings and must comply with the ruling without having been able to influence it. The cost of hiring a solicitor and lawyer before the Supreme Court is real, but may be less than the cost of an unfavorable ruling without having been able to defend yourself.
What should companies do now?
- Evaluate if you have a legitimate interest: determine if RD 1188/2025 directly affects your activity, licenses, operational requirements or rights as a maritime sector company.
- Act before the deadline expires: you have 9 business days from June 30, 2026. This deadline is non-extendable. Calculate the exact deadline excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
- Hire specialized legal advice: appearing before the Supreme Court requires a qualified solicitor and lawyer. Contact a law firm specializing in administrative or maritime law immediately.
- Consult the complete resolution in the BOE: access the full text at BOE-A-2026-14098 to verify the formal requirements of the summons.
- Coordinate with your sector association: if you belong to a maritime association, check if it is considering a collective appearance that could reduce costs and unify the sector's defense.
Frequently asked questions
What is the exact deadline to appear in the challenge against RD 1188/2025?
The deadline is 9 business days counted from the day following publication in the BOE, that is, from June 30, 2026. Business days exclude Saturdays, Sundays and national public holidays. This deadline is non-extendable: anyone who does not appear in time and form loses the right to participate in the proceedings.
What happens if my company does not appear in the challenge before the Supreme Court?
If you do not appear within the deadline, you are excluded from the judicial proceedings. This means you cannot argue, submit evidence or appeal the final ruling. If the Supreme Court annuls RD 1188/2025, you must comply with that decision without having been able to defend your interests. If it upholds it, you will not have been able to influence the outcome either.
Who has filed the challenge against RD 1188/2025 on Maritime Affairs?
The challenge has been filed by the Associació de Lloguer d'Embarcacions Turístiques de la Costa Brava before the Third Chamber, Third Section of the Supreme Court. The case number is 1/37/2026.
Which companies have a legitimate interest to appear in this challenge?
All companies and individuals whose rights or activity are affected by the Royal Decree 1188/2025, of December 26, which amends Maritime Affairs regulations, have a legitimate interest. This includes especially tourist boat rental companies, shipowners, sports ports, maritime tourism companies and sector associations.
How is appearance before the Supreme Court formalized in this challenge?
Appearance must be made before the Third Chamber, Third Section of the Supreme Court within the 9-day business deadline. It requires the intervention of a solicitor and lawyer qualified to act before the Supreme Court. It is essential to have specialized legal advice given the technical nature and strict deadlines of the administrative litigation procedure.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-14098