Spain allocates €140,000 for removal of migrant boats in Almería

The Spanish central government has allocated €139,801 to fund the collection, transport, custody, and destruction of approximately 280 small boats, known as pateras, expected to be intercepted along the Almería coastline over the next year.

The Subdelegation of the Government in Almería stated that the continuous service is necessary to prevent the accumulation of vessels on the coast and to avoid unnecessary costs, as the administration lacks specialized infrastructure. The contract requires the winning firm to be operational year-round, with a maximum response time of three hours following notification from law enforcement.

Operational duties include rescuing boats stranded at sea, on land, or on inaccessible cliffs, which may require maritime towing to the nearest navigable point or port. The plan also covers vessels intercepted near Alborán Island that are brought to the Almería coast. Before disposal, technical staff must document each vessel with photographs and detailed records of its condition and engine. Once in custody, the company is expected to dismantle and destroy the boats, typically within a three-month period.