[…] i have been aware in the past, that there are only a certain amount of park permits given out and that when a boat is retired or out of commission it is common practice for the permit to pass on to another boat but that name of the permit has to stay the same. i can't even begin to speculate on this one.[…]
I have heard the same thing from at least two different local sources (dive guides) on the island in the past.
Of course that doesn't mean it is truly how it is done. Or even that it is legal. My experience working in Mexico in the past in a field that has nothing to do with diving is that there's the law, and then there's how things actually work. Not necessarily because of corruption, but because it makes things easier for everyone (sometimes there aren't enough public servants to do all the required work or they don't know the law has changed, so they bend the rules).
I am by no means trying to "sugarcoat" anything, just saying it's pointless to play coach quaterback and demand or expect things to be done the way they are in the US or any other country. This is Mexico, they have their own laws and their own way of applying them. Fot those who insist on applying US rules to Mexican affairs, may I suggest reading the following link :
Presumption of innocence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I would also like to point out that, while having the proper paperwork is (or at least should be) a good sign that a boat is deemed secure enough to navigate in the areas and conditions specified on the paperwork, not having the paperwork doesn't mean a boat is not fit to navigate.
Anyway, my understanding is that the limited permit thing that may (or may not) lead to using a retired boat's park permit and renaming the new craft the same as the original boat applies to the restricted numbers of ships allowed in the Marine Park. (So far, I haven't be able to find any official info on the internet regarding how many boats have those permits in Cozumel and what the law says about buying a new boat).
However, whether or not the Scuba Mau boat that sunk had a park permit or not is irrelevant : they were crossing to Playa that day, not going to the Marine Park. So the accurate legal question would be whether or not the boat was allowed to cross the channel.
For those who would like to know more about the Navigation laws of Mexico, here is a
link I found (don't know if it's the current law).
Articles 38 and 40 explain the basic requirements (paperwork) for registering a boat in Mexico.
Articles 55 thru 57 are about boat modifications, changes of ownership, etc.
Artículo 55- Cuando previa aprobación de la Secretaría, se hagan modificaciones
significativas a las embarcaciones o artefactos navales, los certificados de matrícula,
seguridad, cubierta y máquinas serán reemplazados; el libro y los cálculos de
estabilidad serán modificados; y unos y otros serán sometidos a la aprobación de la
Capitanía de Puerto.
Artículo 56- En tanto el Capitán de Puerto otorga la aprobación a que se refiere el
artículo anterior, deberá extender un pasavante en la forma que establece el presente
capítulo del Reglamento.
Artículo 57- Cuando una embarcación o artefacto naval cambie de propietario, el
vendedor estará obligado a dar aviso de ello a la Capitanía de Puerto de su matrícula,
dentro de los veinte días hábiles siguientes al de la operación. El nuevo propietario
deberá comprobar su capacidad legal para poseer embarcaciones nacionales y
presentar la solicitud de modificación de la matrícula con los datos y documentos
relativos a que se refiere este capítulo. La solicitud deberá contener los requisitos
señalados en los artículos 38 fracción I, y 40 I y VI, de este reglamento.
Sorry, can't do a proper translation as I am not fluent in legal Spanish and there are several technical terms that I am not familiar with.
My understanding is that any significant change to crafts must be approved by the Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes and then submitted to the approval of the Capitania de Puerto.
And that when the boat changes ownership, the seller has to inform the Capitania de Puerto within 20 days of the transaction.
The new owner will have to verify his legal aptitude to possess national crafts and to present a request of modification of the matriculation.
PS : if a reporter from Por Esto really is reading Scubaboard, please ask your bosses to upload Antonio Rea's local police column on the website. I love this guy's witty way of writing.