Spanish authorities have arrested 72 people suspected of being involved with issuing false yachting certification.

The alleged rogue operators are based in the Balearics and mainland Spain.

El Servicio Maritimo and the Guardia Civil worked closely with the RYA in a year-long enquiry after an RYA investigation in 2001 found that there were questions surrounding the issue of a number of certificates.

Several companies were identified, monitored and action taken against with detentions in the Balearics, Zaragoza, Madrid and Barcelona. In total 106 ICC (International Certificate of Competence) and 4 Yachtmaster Offshore Certificates were issued fraudulently by several rogue companies.