The problem with illegal tourist boats

2024-09-01 17:53:42, Kosova & Bota CNA

The Albanian police are announcing every week during this year's tourist season the blocking of dozens of illegal vessels in the maritime space from the shores of Ksamil in the south, to the waters of Lake Koman, in the north of the country.

According to police data, only during the month of July, 137 illegal vessels were blocked in the maritime and lake space of Albania, for violation of the security perimeter set for navigation and for lack of documents.

According to the police, during the month of August, the number of illegal navigation vehicles blocked increased to 168, while the drivers of these vehicles were punished with administrative measures from 100 dollars to 1100 dollars.

The police say that "in most cases of interventions, tourists' lives were seriously endangered due to the breakdown of the vessels or the inability to return to the shore due to the waves."

The means of navigation of types such as "jet skis, speedboats, dinghies but also boats equipped with motors" serve mainly for tourist excursions or for transporting vacationers to the beaches, but according to tourist operators, not all of them are equipped with documentation for these services and in many cases the security standards set by the border police and municipalities of coastal cities are violated.

According to the police themselves, the reasons for blocking the means of navigation and punishing the owners with financial fines are related to the lack of security measures, lack of documentation and permits needed for the transport of vacationers.

In many cases, the police have documented that the vessels are not equipped with rescue equipment, and have not respected the areas designated for navigation, endangering the lives of vacationers.

Only during the months of July and August, the Albanian police have provided assistance in the maritime space to more than 100 tourists whose lives have been endangered and who have requested intervention for their rescue, which occurred in navigational vehicles at sea or in areas of the coast blocked by waves .

According to the police data, most of the cases of aid and also blocked vessels belong to the maritime space from Vlora to Saranda.

Meanwhile, even this year in Albania, there have been no shortage of incidents with the means of navigation during the tourist season.

Alban Kukaviqi, the 56-year-old injured in July by the propeller of a dinghy in the bay of Saint Jan, in Karaburun, died a few days ago in a hospital abroad./ VOA