Throughout this year, the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Board of Works for the Port of Palma (the organisation that gave rise to the APB) and the 30th anniversary of the APB as we know it today. A wide range of activities will take place during this year of celebration and looking ahead to the future. From publications and exhibitions to conferences and spectacular cultural events, the five ports will host an extensive programme of activities for residents to enjoy as the year unfolds.

The aim of the anniversary celebrations is to simultaneously commemorate and strengthen the port authority’s spirit of service towards the port community and society in general. Although its nomenclature and competencies may have varied over the years, the authority has always aimed to respond as effectively as possible to the challenges that are faced by the ports on a daily basis, and to improve and modernise the port services and facilities in order to make the flow of goods and passengers easier and more fluid.

The APB brings its 150th anniversary to a close with an institutional event at the Port Centre

The APB brings its 150th anniversary to a close with an institutional event at the Port Centre

 24/02/2023

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has brought to a close a year of commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the body that gave rise to the APB, the Port of Palma Board of Works, with an institutional event attended by representatives of civil society, the port community and political authorities. Among them were the president of the Government, Francina Armengol the president of Puertos del Estado, Álvaro Rodríguez Dapena, the delegate of the Government, Aina Calvo and the president of the Parliament of the Balearic Islands, Vicenç Thomàs, and others. Also present were the members of the APB's Board of Directors and former presidents, directors and secretaries of the institution. The event combined videos on the past, present and future of the APB with speeches by the leading authorities. Jaume Colom, president of the APB, took the opportunity to highlight the role of the people who have made possible "a modern development of our ports, which has had a direct impact on the economic growth of our islands over the last century". People, most of them "anonymous, proud and jealous of their daily work", he added. "Men and women whose daily activities, whether more extensive or more specific, make the complex operations of the ports so essential and vital in the islands for the supply and transport of citizens". The most moving moment of the event was the tribute to former presidents, directors and secretaries of the APB, represented by Rafael Soler and Pere Bonet. The former is the longest living director, while Bonet is the last lighthouse keeper of the Portopí lighthouse in the port of Palma. On behalf of all those present, they were presented with the first two issues of the lithographs produced by the artist Marta Ruiz Anguera for the occasion, which will be given to the workers of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands. After the speeches by Rodríguez Dapena and Francina Armengol, the commemorative plaque that will be displayed at the entrance to the recently inaugurated institutional headquarters was unveiled. The person in charge of doing the honours was María del Carmen Vico, the institution's youngest employee, as a symbol of the succession of generations and the public commitment to society that the APB has assumed since its foundation. The wording on the plaque is dedicated to the men and women who have made the port their public service mission, preserving the legacy of their predecessors and passing it on to future generations. 'De tot cor’ The theme 'De tot cor', on loan from the Mallorcan artist Tomeu Penya, has been the motto of the 150th anniversary of the public body. The event ended with a brief performance by Tomeu Penya playing the guitar, as a final token of gratitude and a vision of the future. 150 years of history A wide range of different activities have marked a year of celebration and projection towards the future. From publications, exhibitions to congresses and cultural shows, the five ports have hosted the scheduled events. The aim of these anniversaries is to remember as well as to strengthen the spirit of service of the port authority towards the port community and society in general. A mission with different names and competencies over time, which seeks to respond more effectively to the daily challenges that arise in the port area, adapting and modernising the port facilities and services in order to improve the fluidity and comfort of goods and passenger traffic.

150th anniversary History Port-city
Lluc Julià: “Rephotography serves to expose the landscape we have spoiled and to reclaim what we have been able to preserve”

Lluc Julià: “Rephotography serves to expose the landscape we have spoiled and to reclaim what we have been able to preserve”

 24/02/2023

Lluc Julià Fàbregues (Barcelona, 1969) is a graphic designer specialising in editorial content. Since 2003 she has been capturing the change experienced in the islands over the last century through rephotographs, a technique that consists of repeating a photograph of the same site, with a time lag between images, documenting the past and present of a specific area. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the APB, a collection of rephotographs of the ports and lighthouses of the past and present has been commissioned to go down in history. How did the idea of these rephotographs come about? The idea came from the book Voyage en Inde, a book of rephotography by the Italian Antonio Martinelli based on engravings of Hindu temples from the period of British rule in India. I thought it was a great way to illustrate the state of the heritage of a particular place and space. Later I came across Die Balearen, the work of Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria, and thought it was a perfect opportunity for me to use rephotography. Not knowing to what extent the engravings are true to life made me unsure at the beginning. However, I soon realised that the archduke's encyclopaedic philosophy reveals the few artistic licences he allowed himself, such as, in some cases, minor modifications of scale and perspective or the addition of a trivial element. Another aspect I value in this project is giving visibility to the archduke's work beyond his character. What do you look for to make such careful compositions? Once you have located the exact place from where the original image was taken, which is not always possible, we must consider three essential elements: perspective, framing and the time of day. We cannot always count on all three, but the closer you get, the better the result. How do you go about locating the spaces? First of all, I try to locate them from home using Google Maps. This is a first filter that allows me to see possibilities and discard impossible or very complicated rephotographs. At this point it is also important to determine whether the original image is taken in the morning or at dusk, so that I can go at a time when the light is as close as possible to that of the original. With this preliminary task you can tackle the fieldwork with a lot of work done and a better chance of success. However, I have had to go to most of the locations more than once, either because of a mistake with the perspective, with the time of day or because of bad weather, which also happens quite often... You started to rephotograph the islands on the basis of the Die Balearen engravings and now based on old photographs for the APB. What has surprised you most about what you have learned? There are many aspects that you already expect when you compare the present and the future, such as urban growth. On the other hand, what has surprised me most is how the vegetation has gained ground. Both the archduke's engravings and the old photos show bare islands with practically no vegetation. I haven’t been able to capture many of the landscapes of Die Balearen because the vegetation has prevented me from accessing the exact spot or has completely blocked my view. In general, have the landscapes improved or worsened? These projects serve to expose the landscape that we have spoiled and to reclaim what we have been able to preserve. This can also be applied to architectural heritage. What motivates me about photography is being able to create tools to raise awareness, in an attractive, understandable and even playful way, of the impact the human footprint has on the environment itself, especially on the natural and cultural heritage of the Balearic Islands. A place that moves you. I couldn't pinpoint a specific place from those I have rephotographed that particularly moves me. What I can describe is an exciting moment: When I find the exact place from where the original image was taken and I think of the person who was there 100 years ago or more, capturing it from the same place. This kind of project is made possible by technology. Will electronic devices replace paper? Are you an ebook or a book person? Technology helps a lot in this type of project and it is admirable how such an incredible work of art as Die Balearen could be done with the technical means of the time. There is no doubt that today's technology gives us the opportunity to reveal our work to a lot of people with very little effort. I personally believe that electronic devices and paper are complementary to one another. In many ways mobiles have replaced paper, but I don't think they will make it disappear. I read both ebooks and physical books, but I prefer the latter. I am a graphic designer specialising in editorial and content design and I like to have a well-edited book in my hands. In this case, for example, the ebook has many limitations.

150th anniversary Port-city
Today and tomorrow the APB is hosting the 5th Technical Conference on Port Archives

Today and tomorrow the APB is hosting the 5th Technical Conference on Port Archives

 24/02/2023

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is hosting the 5th Technical Conference on Port Archives, entitled 'The archive, a time capsule', starting today. For two days, experts in port archiving and researchers will present their points of view on the general characteristics and strategic dimension of the documentary collections of port archives. First of all, the director of the Arxiu del Regne de Mallorca, Ricard Urgell, will review the existing documentation on the port of the city of Palma between the 15th and 18th centuries. Later, the archive of the Port Authority of Huelva will be presented as a research model and the documentary heritage of the MITMA general archive. The conference will include two round tables. The first, this Thursday, will deal with the historical archives of the Spanish port system in the 21st century. The following day will offer a practical vision of electronic administration and archiving through the cases of the port authorities of Ferrol, Cartagena and the Balearic Islands. Other presentations will look at the port documentation housed in the National Historical Archive, the model of cooperation between institutions of the Balearic Islands Historical Archives Platform and artificial intelligence as a mechanism to facilitate the dissemination of documentary archives.

150th anniversary Port-city
The exhibition 'Ports d’un temps' (Ports of a time) shows port life through old photographs

The exhibition 'Ports d’un temps' (Ports of a time) shows port life through old photographs

 14/10/2022

From 14 October to 5 January, the institutional headquarters of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) will be hosting the exhibition Ports d’un temps (Ports of a time), jointly organised by Fotos Antiguas de Mallorca (FAM) and the APB, as part of the celebration of the institution’s 150th anniversary. The intention is to look into the past to take us on an emotional journey to many places in the ports of general interest in the Balearic Islands. The journey unfolds through the eyes of the protagonists who lived through those times and who left a great cultural legacy so that we can enjoy those moments today. Along this journey we will be able to visit emblematic neighbourhoods like the Jonquet, the Old Quay, Dalt Vila, etc. We will also be able to learn about the customs and habits of the people who lived there and who in some way are the precursors of today’s society. This exhibition has obtained photographs from the Historical Archive of the APB and the photographic collection provided by FAM, which is made up of four photographers who were the protagonists of this journey: Bartolomé Reus Bordoy, Antonio Llodrá, Melchor Guardia and the Sastre Palmer family. EXHIBITION OPENING HOURS Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday: From 10:00 to 15:00 Friday: From 14:00 to 19:00 Sunday: From 11:00 to 14:00

150th anniversary Port-city
Today the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands celebrates its 150th anniversary

Today the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands celebrates its 150th anniversary

 16/08/2022

Today the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the approval by Royal Order of the creation of the Works Committee of the Port of Palma, its own port management body that gave rise to the current APB after several name changes and ports of competence throughout its history. On 16 August 1872, the Director General of Public Works, acting on behalf of the Minister of Public Works, authorised the creation of "a Committee responsible for everything related to the improvements made in the port of Palma". This committee was made up of the governor of the province, as president, and representatives of the Provincial Council, Town Council, Trade Section, Board of Agriculture, Industry and Trade, two merchants, two shipowners, two landowners and, lastly, the Navy commander and civil engineer. 150th anniversary banner To commemorate this date, the APB has commissioned a banner with the names of the current members of its Board of Directors. The illustrator, Flavia Gargiulo, and the calligrapher, Paz Alomar, have been commissioned to immortalise for the entity’s history a list of the highest-ranking officials of the port authority. The APB thus continues the tradition begun in 1972, when it celebrated the centenary of the creation of the port's managing body, with two banners designed with the names of the members of the Committee of the Port of Palma in 1872 and 1972. B. Moll designed these banners. Mariano de Quintana is listed as the head of the 1872 Port Committee, while one hundred years later, in 1972, Miguel Nigorra Oliver held the position of president, with Antonio Dicenta de Vera as director and Antonio Cirerol Thomás as secretary. In 2022, Francesc Antich Oliver is elected president, Jorge Nasarre López director and María Antonia Ginard Moll secretary of the Board of Directors, so far the only woman to hold this position in the history of the institution. Domingo Bonnín Daniel, representing the Consell Insular de Mallorca and the latest addition to the Board of Directors, appears in the 2022 banner. Pomegranates and Gothic lettering The Madrid-based illustrator, Flavia Gargiulo, has used flowers and pomegranates to illustrate the banner, with golden details to enhance the 150th anniversary logo created for the occasion, while the calligrapher, Paz Alomar, has opted for Gothic lettering to continue the classic tradition of the APB’s banners. The work is done on natural goatskin parchment.

150th anniversary History
The APB celebrates International Archives Day by bringing to light the original project for the lighthouse in the port of Palma

The APB celebrates International Archives Day by bringing to light the original project for the lighthouse in the port of Palma

 09/06/2022

. The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is bringing to light the original project for the construction of the lighthouse in the port of Palma (or lighthouse of La Riba) on the occasion of the International Archives Day. This is the central element of the exhibition that will be open to the public between 8 and 10 June, at the APB’s Institutional Headquarters on the Old Quay. The project, dated 1899 and signed by the engineer Juan Malberti Rigo, who was director of the Board of the Port of Palma de Mallorca between 1874 and 1912, can be seen in the first exhibition organised by the APB Archive, to celebrate the institution’s 150th anniversary this year. Juan Malberti designed the lighthouse at the turn of the century and inaugurated it on 1 November 1903. It remained in service until 1982, when it was definitively extinguished and replaced by other beacons installed along the quay. The building was dismantled stone by stone, numbered and rebuilt on the current site of the main road and backbone of the commercial docks at the port of Palma. During this period, it marked the end of the Paseo de la Riba, an endearing and very popular place among the people of Palma at the time. Today it represents the institutional image of the APB. The exhibition also includes other original projects for port works, period manuscripts, facsimiles and photographs. All these documents have been catalogued by the APB Archive, which begins its mission to bring a small part of its documentary heritage closer to society through this exhibition. International Archives Day Due to its uniqueness, the APB Archive is a true ark of knowledge. Its documentary heritage provides information on engineering, social changes, urban and port development, meteorology, economics, history, etc. All this outlines a map of the social, economic and cultural development of the cities. Ports are the most important pillars of an archipelago, and its city shapers. On the occasion of International Archives Day, 9 June, and coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the constitution of the Port Authority, the APB Archive is opening this exhibition, which will be located at the APB’s Institutional Headquarters on Palma’s Old Quay no. 3, between 8 and 10 June, from 10 am to 3 pm, except on Thursday 9th, when it will be open from 10 am to 7 pm.

Port-city 150th anniversary
APB staff and their families participate in the collection of plastic waste on Can Pere Antoni beach in Palma

APB staff and their families participate in the collection of plastic waste on Can Pere Antoni beach in Palma

 03/03/2022

Today, a group of volunteers took part in a day of awareness-raising and coastal clean-up at Can Pere Antoni beach in Palma. This is an initiative organised by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) and Ports IB, which under the slogan “In the sea, leave no trace behind you”, aims to raise public awareness of the serious environmental problem represented by waste left in the natural environment and its impact on the flora and fauna. From 26 February to 1 March, family workshops with talks and waste characterisation campaigns are being offered at different ports on the islands by the LIBERA project. Created in 2017 by the NGO SEO/BirdLife in alliance with Ecoembes, this project is intended to raise awareness and mobilise citizens to keep the natural environment free of waste. This weekend events already took place in Sant Antoni de Portmany, La Savina and Ciutadella, while today they are scheduled in Palma and tomorrow Portocristo. The aim is to involve all citizens and explain the role that everyone has to play in preventing pollution and protecting the natural environments of the Balearic Islands.

Environment and CSR 150th anniversary
The APB shows the main lines of activity at the ports through a comic strip

The APB shows the main lines of activity at the ports through a comic strip

 21/02/2022

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) presents Las puertas del mar. A journey through the ports of general interest in the Balearic Islands. This is a book in comic format that gives you a brief entertaining and educational account of the key role played by the ports of Palma, Alcúdia, Maó, Eivissa and La Savina in the supply for the population, promotion of economic activity in their surroundings, and the historical development of the region. Coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the port organisation, the APB has just published this work developed by the Clúster de Cómics i Nous Mèdia de Mallorca, with illustrations by authors of recognised prestige in the world of comics, such as Linhart, Jaume Balaguer, Álex Fito, Canizales and Flavia Gargiulo. The texts are written by Verbigracia and Flavia Gargiulo. In the words of the President of the APB, Francesc Antich, it is “a tool that takes an educational tour of the ports in a fresh and light-hearted way”, and is also “a warning of their important role as an instrument that allows us to supply our islands with goods and give them connectivity”. The book is intended for all audiences and stresses the irreplaceable role of the ports of general interest as economic drivers and key elements for the supply of the Balearic Islands. It also focuses on publicising the main ships operating in our ports, with special attention to the regular ferries, and on giving visibility to the work of the most recognised port trades, activities and agents in the port community. It also reviews the history of port evolution, the distinguishing features of each of the five ports and their port-city relationship. Finally, the work carried out by the APB in the management of maritime signals and the commitment undertaken to implement technological advances to improve the service offered to users, and in the fight against climate change. Paper and digital format During the month of February, 15,000 copies in paper format were distributed free of charge to all APB staff, to educational centres in the Balearic Islands, to public libraries in the autonomous community and to a large group of representatives of the Balearic port community. The book has been produced with paper from responsible sources, the inks used to print the book are ecological and of vegetable origin, and the use of plastics has been avoided in the packaging of the copies. It is available to everyone in digital format at www.portsdebalears.com and contains detailed maps of the ports and educational fact sheets for children.

150th anniversary Port-city
The president of Puertos del Estado visits the port of Palma

The president of Puertos del Estado visits the port of Palma

 07/02/2022

The president of Puertos del Estado, Álvaro Rodríguez Dapena, made an institutional visit to the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) this morning, accompanied by its president, Francesc Antich and his management team, as part of the round of contacts he is making with the managers of the ports of general interest of the State Port System. After signing the APB’s book of honour, Rodríguez Dapena received a commemorative mosaic from Antich to mark the visit, which coincides with the 150th anniversary of the APB. They then toured the port of Palma, visiting the new medium and low voltage electricity supply infrastructure that enables berthed ferries to reduce gas emissions and noise generated by their engines during stopovers and disembarkation and embarkation operations. A technological advance that the president of Puertos del Estado has described as innovative and which the president of the APB considers part of “the commitment assumed by the ports in their fight against climate change”. After meeting with the APB management committee, with whom he learned first-hand about the projects and challenges affecting the ports of Palma, Alcudia, Maó, Eivissa and La Savina, he held a meeting with some of the main port operators on the islands. Environment, sustainability and island uniqueness Among the topics discussed was the identification of the APB’s strategic plan with the guidelines and general terms of the Strategic Framework of the Spanish port system, both of which are expected to be approved in 2022. Among the central themes of the presentation were the application of sustainable management and ecological transition policies, as well as the transformation of port terminals to be powered exclusively by renewable energies. The need to adapt structures and human resources to the unique management of five ports on four islands, the organisation of regular passenger and goods transport lines, the opportunity to promote more sustainable cruise tourism, the situation of the nautical sector and the boat repair and maintenance industry, as well as the future developments of the port of Palma, were other aspects dealt with by the technicians of the APB and the port community of the Balearic Islands.

150th anniversary Environment and CSR Port-city Technology and innovation Transport and infrastructure Socio-economic development
Visits to the exhibition of maritime signals at the Portopí lighthouse in the port of Palma are resumed

Visits to the exhibition of maritime signals at the Portopí lighthouse in the port of Palma are resumed

 17/01/2022

The president and director of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), Francesc Antich and Jorge Nasarre, visited the recently reopened exhibition of maritime signals at the Portopí lighthouse. Both followed the explanations of the guides, who accompanied them throughout the tour. After a few months of preparation, the exhibition has some interesting new features, such as the restored lantern of the Llebeig lighthouse, which can be seen at the entrance to the exhibition, and a video showing details of the restoration and replacement of this same lantern. The reopening of the space coincides with the 150th anniversary of the APB, a year of celebration and projection into the future that aims to raise the public’s awareness of the port areas. Visits to the lighthouse The Portopí lighthouse is located in a restricted access area, so visits require booking. Free visits can be arranged from Wednesday to Friday from 10 am to 3 pm and from 4 pm to 7 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm through this link or at fardeportopi@portsdebalears.com / 662 418 163. In 2004, the APB opened the doors of the Portopí lighthouse to the public, one of the most characteristic constructions in the port of Palma, a symbol of the city and of the history of maritime communications in the Balearic Islands. That year the Portopí lighthouse was converted into a cultural space to permanently house the exhibition of maritime signals that shows visitors the fascinating world of lighthouses. The exhibition occupies the space of the former lighthouse keeper's two-storey house and introduces visitors to the world of maritime signalling, familiarising them with the specific terminology. There is also a collection of optics from 2nd to 6th order, different rotating machines and an explanation of the evolution of maritime lighting along the Balearic coastal areas. Finally, the exhibition invites us to travel back in time to learn about the living conditions of the old lighthouse keepers and their families living in extremely isolated places.

150th anniversary Port-city