The Social Marine Institute, which operates under the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, has extended the accreditation of the private entity Centro de Formación Marítima, SLU, allowing it to continue providing initial specific medical training in its shore-based format, along with the corresponding refresher courses. The measure was formalized through the Resolution of September 4, 2026, published in the Official State Gazette.
The renewal guarantees compliance with the standards established by the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW-78/2010), European Union Directive 2022/993 and Royal Decree 258/1999. These regulations require captains, skippers and personnel responsible for the onboard medical chest to hold official certification in first aid and medical care, with a legal obligation to update this training every five years.
The authorized classes will continue to be held in the center’s permanent classrooms, located at 16 Calle La Sirena, in the coastal town of Los Abrigos, within the municipality of Granadilla de Abona in Tenerife. The extension granted by the Directorate of the Social Marine Institute will be valid for five years from the date of its official notification and may be renewed for identical periods, provided the company submits its request at least one month before the expiration date.
To ensure teaching quality, the public agency’s resolution establishes strict operational requirements for the training center. The entity must notify the Provincial Directorate of the Social Marine Institute in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 15 days in advance, of the content, schedule, timetable and teaching staff for each course, as well as send the final list of students 24 hours before classes begin. Any changes to the material or human resources must likewise be formally reported before they are implemented, or within the five subsequent business days if they arise from unforeseen circumstances.
After each course is completed, the center will have 72 hours to submit the details of students who have passed via electronic means and a maximum of seven days to deliver the corresponding official records. On the basis of this documentation, the Social Marine Institute will issue official certificates to seafarers who have successfully completed the training. The state agency reserves the right to conduct periodic inspections at the facilities to verify the suitability and soundness of the training program.
Centro de Formación Marítima, established in mid-2011 with share capital of €3,656 and its registered office in Granadilla de Abona, operates with Carlos Javier Villalba as its sole director and shareholder. The company’s corporate purpose remains the comprehensive training of professionals in the maritime and recreational sectors, in addition to carrying out specialized diving and technical instruction work.
The article Social Marine Institute renews authorization for Centro de Formación Marítima in Tenerife was first published on canarymaritime.com.
