Maritime Health Training Extension in Galicia: What Changes in 2026

Key data

Workers in the maritime-fishing sector in Galicia who need to obtain or renew their health certificate can continue to attend the center Servicio de Formación Galego e Salvamento, SL without interruptions. The Instituto Social de la Marina has extended its accreditation through a resolution of 10 March 2026, published in the BOE of 27 March 2026.

This resolution does not create new obligations, but it does confirm that the only private Galician center with this dual authorization—stable and itinerant—remains operational. For shipowners, fishing cooperatives, and fishing companies, this means that mandatory crew training has guaranteed coverage in Galicia.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution extends the accreditation of the center Servicio de Formación Galego e Salvamento, SL to provide the following specific health training courses:

The stable modality is delivered at the center's fixed facilities. The itinerant modality allows training to be delivered directly to ports and coastal towns with limited access to fixed centers, which is especially relevant for fishing communities away from major Galician urban centers.

This accreditation is the prerequisite for courses taught by the center to be valid for the qualifications and safety required by maritime-fishing sector regulations. Without it, certificates issued would have no legal validity.

Economic and operational impact

The extension has primarily an operational impact, not a direct economic one for companies. However, its practical consequences are relevant:

• Continuity without interruptions: Companies in the sector do not need to seek alternative centers outside Galicia to comply with mandatory worker training.
• Access in coastal areas: The itinerant modality reduces travel costs for crew members from ports and towns with limited access to fixed training centers.
• Employability and legality: A worker without a current health certificate cannot work legally in the sector. The extension guarantees that the process of obtaining and renewing certificates remains available in Galicia.
• Risk of non-compliance: If a company hires a worker without the required health qualification, it incurs non-compliance with maritime safety requirements, with the corresponding legal responsibilities.

Who does it affect?

• Workers in the maritime-fishing sector in Galicia who need to obtain for the first time or renew their specific health training certificate.
• Shipowners and fishing companies that must demonstrate that their crews meet the health qualification requirements established by current regulations.
• Fishing cooperatives and sector organizations that manage the training of their members.
• The center itself, Servicio de Formación Galego e Salvamento, SL, which can continue to provide these courses with official validity.
• Other nautical training centers in Galicia that compete in this training segment.

Practical example

A small-scale fishing skipper based at a port on the Costa da Morte needs to renew his advanced health training certificate. Until now, he had to travel to a city with a fixed training center.

With the extension in force, Servicio de Formación Galego e Salvamento, SL can deliver its training in itinerant modality directly to the worker's port or coastal town. This eliminates travel costs and time, and allows the fishing company to organize training for several crew members at once without disrupting operations more than necessary.

The certificate obtained has full legal validity as it is issued by a center with current accreditation from the Instituto Social de la Marina.

What should companies do now?

1. Review the status of crew health certificates: Check which workers have expired or expiring certificates to plan their renewal without urgency.
2. Contact Servicio de Formación Galego e Salvamento, SL: If you operate in Galicia, this center has current accreditation to provide initial and advanced health training, in stable and itinerant modality.
3. Consider the itinerant modality: If you have several workers at the same port or coastal town, the itinerant modality can reduce costs and travel time.
4. Do not hire workers without current qualifications: A worker without the required health certificate represents non-compliance with maritime safety requirements. Check documentation before each campaign.
5. Maintain regulatory monitoring: Accreditations have expiration dates. Periodically verify that the centers where you train your staff maintain active authorization.