Holiday warning over Majorca party boats loved by Brits as officials vow massive new crackdown

PARTY boat-loving Brits have been urged to rein in their antics onboard as officials in Majorca launched a new crackdown on rowdy tourists. The island’s council said it will bring in the police to deal with noisy “floating discos” and warned of heavy fines. Locals have complained about the noise from party boats loved by Brits A slew of locals have already lodged numerous complaints about the party boats disturbing their peace and quiet. Residents slammed the boisterous bashes and said they have to put up with non-stop partying on boats moored by the beaches. Hotels have even expressed their fury about parties on the water as they claim unruly tourists and loud music bothers their guests. It is another blow for holidaymakers jetting away for a knees-up as the summer season swings into action. Insular Minister of Tourism, Andreu Serra has called for the “maximum collaboration of the municipalities” to stop a practice that was supposed to be controlled by the law of tourism excesses and even banned in some resorts. “We have prepared all the operations to act, in collaboration with the Maritime Service of the Civil Guard, to put all the necessary means when complaints are made,” she warned. “At the same time, we will activate all the mechanisms to initiate disciplinary proceedings.” She said Majorca council was aware “that this start of the season is being more complicated than expected, since it is verified that there are more irregularities than in previous years.” The tourism minister said there would be extreme vigilance to control boats which did not comply with the excess tourism regulations.  But the president of the Balearic Association of Leisure and Entertainment (Abone), Miguel Pérez Marsá said: “The city councils must be tougher with this type of action, despite the fact that they do not have powers at sea. “We see that there is no political will to tackle this phenomenon at the root, both in terms of non-stop parties and discos on the high seas. “Something has to happen for the administration to act, when now we are at the right time to control all kinds of illegal actions, which on top of that generate unfair competition for nightlife companies that comply with all the regulations, generate employment and pay the corresponding taxes.” Abone says noisy party boats are causing a huge nuisance not just in Palma and Magaluf, but across the island. Hotel associations on the island are also asking the Balearic Government and council to eradicate these illegal leisure practices “because the noise bothers both residents and tourists who stay in the hotels.” Residents of Colonia de Sant Jordi on the southeastern coast of Majorca say they “can’t take any more” after five years of disturbances and no action. At the weekend, nearly 20 party boats gathered off the popular beach and were said to have blasted out music for more than 12 hours, starting at 5pm and ending at 6am the next morning. “This is a party organised to promote drunken tourism at sea and we fear that this will happen again,” said one resident. The local council said they did call in the police but were told they had no jurisdiction at sea.