Spanish Maritime Safety and Rescue Agency

What Spanish Maritime Safety and Rescue Agency does

The Spanish Maritime Safety and Rescue Agency — legally E.P.E. Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Marítima (SASEMAR), publicly branded as "Salvamento Marítimo" — is a government-owned public business entity (Entidad Pública Empresarial) created by Law 27/1992 and operating since 1993 under the Spanish Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility. Its statutory mandate is the protection of life at sea within the Spanish search-and-rescue responsibility area, encompassing maritime search and rescue, marine pollution prevention and response, and maritime traffic control. Services are provided free of charge 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through 20 coastal coordination centers, 87-90 maritime and aerial rescue units, 6 strategic pollution-response bases, the Centro Jovellanos training facility in Gijón, and a public emergency hotline (900 202 202 / VHF Channel 16).

The agency's technology stack integrates satellite maritime surveillance, VHF radio and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), crewed helicopter operations (HELIMER), and a formalized Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) drone coordination procedure for protected zones around its heliports. The €20.98M iSAR (Programa Integral de Innovación de Salvamento Marítimo) program — 85% co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) under the POPE 2014-2020 framework — is the principal vehicle for technology modernization. Cumulative operational outcomes include 680,000+ persons searched, rescued, or assisted over 30 years and 127+ million km² of maritime surface monitored annually.

SASEMAR has no commercial revenue model: all services are publicly funded through the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility budget, supplemented by EU grants for specific programs such as iSAR. The agency's "customers" are the general maritime public — recreational boaters, water sports participants, commercial vessel operators — served through safety awareness campaigns (notably #SensatezEnElMar and the annual Summer Nautical Safety Campaign conducted with Dirección General de la Marina Mercante, ANEN, and the Guardia Civil Servicio Marítimo), public communication channels (InforMar magazine, Las Caras del Mar podcast, active social media), and the annual Premios Salvamento Marítimo ODS 14 awards program recognizing contributions to UN Sustainable Development Goal 14. The agency holds a statutory state monopoly on maritime rescue and pollution response in Spanish waters, with no commercial competitor in its mandated scope.

Name

Spanish Maritime Safety and Rescue Agency

Legal name

E.P.E. SOCIEDAD DE SALVAMENTO Y SEGURIDAD MARÍTIMA

Website

https://salvamentomaritimo.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

SASEMAR (Salvamento Marítimo) is the Spanish government's public business entity providing 24/7 maritime search-and-rescue, pollution prevention, and maritime traffic control across Spanish waters, free of charge, through 20 coordination centers and 87–90 rescue units staffed by 1,500 professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Search and Rescue Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Fire Protection (92216), Navigational Services to Shipping (48833), Security Guards and Patrol Services (561612)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Response & Incident Command (Oil Spill/HAZMAT, SAR Support) (TLAHAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination (HLAJAGAJ), Pollution Control & Environmental Remediation (Booming, Skimming, Shoreline Cleanup) (TLAHAIAH), Disaster Response & Search and Rescue (SAR) (BPADADAA), Incident Response & Emergency Management for Ports (Threat Response, Evacuation, Coordination) (BPAKALAJ)

Keywords

• Maritime search rescue
• Marine pollution response
• Maritime traffic control
• Emergency coordination services
• Vessel safety monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Funding: Publicly funded through the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility budget. Services are provided free of charge to the public.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SASEMAR (Salvamento Marítimo) operates the Spanish state's mandated maritime search and rescue service, providing 24/7 emergency response for persons in distress at sea across more than 127 million km² of monitored waters. The agency delivers marine pollution prevention, containment, and cleanup; controls maritime traffic via coastal coordination centers; and conducts safety awareness campaigns for recreational boaters and water sports participants. Operations are supported by 20 coordination centers, 87 maritime and aerial rescue units, 6 strategic bases, and the Centro Jovellanos training facility, all funded by the Spanish government and delivered free of charge to the public.

Product overview

Salvamento Maritimo (SASEMAR) operates as a public business entity under the Spanish Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, providing maritime rescue, pollution prevention, and maritime traffic control services across Spanish waters. The organization maintains 20 Coordination Centers, 87 maritime and aerial units, and 6 strategic bases staffed by 1,500 professionals. Its portfolio includes specialized offerings such as the iSAR innovation program (EU-funded), the Centro Jovellanos training facility, HELIMER helicopter rescue operations, the RPAS drone coordination system, and public communication products including the InforMar magazine and Las Caras del Mar podcast. The agency also conducts annual awards recognizing contributions to marine conservation under SDG 14.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iSAR: Programa Integral de Innovación de Salvamento Marítimo - Integral Innovation Programme for Maritime Rescue to make rescues faster and improve environmental quality of marine surroundings.

Products and services

• Maritime Search and Rescue Operations 24/7 emergency maritime search, rescue, and assistance service for persons in distress at sea across the Spanish search and rescue responsibility area. Delivered through coastal coordination centers, rescue vessels, helicopters, and emergency hotlines, free of charge to all users.
• Marine Pollution Prevention and Response Marine pollution prevention, monitoring, containment, and cleanup operations for Spanish waters. Includes HELIMER helicopter-based sample collection for pollutant identification and polluter identification, supported by 6 strategic pollution-response bases.
• Maritime Traffic Control and Vessel Monitoring Maritime traffic monitoring and control service for vessels operating in Spanish waters. Includes GMDSS distress and safety communications, NAVTEX navigational warnings, radioavisos, traffic separation schemes, and the Portal ATON aids-to-navigation service.
• iSAR - Integrated Innovation Program for Maritime Rescue Comprehensive maritime surveillance and innovation program using satellite and aerial monitoring to detect pollution and accelerate rescue operations. EU FEDER co-funded (€17.8M of €20.9M total budget) to improve rescue speed and marine environmental quality.
• Centro Jovellanos - Maritime Safety Training Center Comprehensive training center in Gijón offering courses and professional development programs in maritime safety, port safety, industrial safety, occupational hazard prevention, and marine pollution response. Open to maritime professionals and industry.
• HELIMER Helicopter Maritime Rescue Operations Helicopter maritime rescue operations and environmental monitoring service that conducts aerial sample collection from helicopters for pollution detection and polluter identification across Spanish waters.
• Summer Nautical Safety Awareness Campaign (Campaña de Verano de Seguridad Náutica) Annual public awareness campaign promoting safe practices for recreational boating and water sports (surf, windsurf, kitesurf, kayaks, jet skis, diving). Developed in collaboration with Marina Mercante and nautical associations including ANEN.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 680,000 persons rescued or assisted over 30 years of operation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dirección General de la Marina MercantecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-promoter of the Summer Nautical Safety Campaign along with Salvamento Marítimo. Collaborates on regulations and safety standards for recreational navigation.
• Asociación Nacional de Empresas Náuticas (Anen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating partner in the Summer Nautical Safety Campaign, representing nautical businesses and promoting safety standards among recreational watercraft users.
• Guardia Civil (Servicio Marítimo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on maritime safety enforcement and recreational watercraft regulation compliance. Participates in campaign presentations and round tables.
• Asociación Hombre y TerritoriominorOthers2022 award recipient for SOS CARETTA project on sea turtle conservation with Andalusian fishermen.
• Fundación Biodiversidad - Observatorio de Basura MarinaminorOthers2022 award accésit recipient for marine litter observatory project.
• ADEAC (Asociación de Educación Ambiental y del Consumidor)minorOthers2022 award recipient for Blue Flag program contributions to marine protection.
• Proyecto AlnitakminorOthers2022 award accésit recipient for Observadores del Mar: Pesca Fantasma project on marine rescue.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA): EU agency providing maritime safety, pollution response and surveillance capacity to member states including Spain. Adjacent enabling/coordination peer that co-funds SASEMAR-adjacent capabilities (e.g., CleanSeaNet satellite pollution monitoring).

Direct peers

• Hellenic Coast Guard: Greek national authority responsible for maritime safety, SAR, and pollution response in Greek waters. Comparable Mediterranean SAR mandate with large incident volumes from refugee/migration and recreational traffic.
• Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM): France's principal maritime rescue organization running lifeboat stations and rescue coordination across the Channel and Atlantic coasts. Directly comparable as a national SAR provider with coastal coordination centers and volunteer/professional crew mix.
• Autoridade Marítima Nacional / MRCC Lisboa: Portugal's national maritime authority and SAR coordinator. Highly comparable neighbor operating MRCC Lisboa, pollution response capability, and Atlantic/Mediterranean coverage of the Portuguese SRR.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger (DGzRS): Germany's maritime rescue society operating rescue cruisers and coordination across the North Sea and Baltic. Comparable in dedicated SAR mandate, donor/funding-supported model, and integrated vessel/fleet operations.
• UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA): UK government agency providing maritime search and rescue, pollution response, and vessel traffic monitoring around the British Isles. Directly comparable to SASEMAR in mandate, statutory structure, and 24/7 coordination-center operating model.
• Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue (Redningsselskapet): Norway's national voluntary maritime rescue organization with a fleet of rescue boats and 24/7 alert response. Comparable national SAR footprint, although funded via private donations rather than state budget.
• Marine Nationale / CROSS (France): French Navy operates CROSS regional operational centres for surveillance and rescue alongside SNSM. Comparable public-sector maritime coordination, particularly for cross-border Bay of Biscay incidents near SASEMAR's northern SRR.
• Italian Guardia Costiera (Coast Guard): Italian state's maritime safety, SAR, and fisheries enforcement body operating MRCC centres around Italy. Closely comparable in Mediterranean SAR scope, pollution response capability, and military-civil coordination role.

Regional players

• Marine Accident Investigation Branch (UK MAIB): UK statutory marine accident investigator, distinct from MCA but operating in adjacent maritime safety space. Useful benchmark for the safety-investigation arm of SASEMAR's broader mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/salvamentogob
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/salvamentomaritimo
• Facebookfacebook.com/salvamentomaritimo.es
• Instagraminstagram.com/salvamentomaritimo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/salvamentomaritimo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Spanish Maritime Safety and Rescue Agency