The president of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), Javier Sanz, joined by the director of the organisation, Antonio Ginard, held a working meeting with the president of Baleària, Adolfo Utor, and his representative for the Balearic Islands, Joan Serra. The meeting focused on advancing the public-private partnership required to develop the project to transform the port of Palma, recently presented by the APB.
During the meeting, both parties agreed on the strategic importance of this project, which represents one of the largest port developments in the Balearic Islands in recent decades, with a planned investment of over €200 million and work covering more than 400,000 square metres of the port area.
The project, currently under development and in constant dialogue with the various social, economic and institutional agents, proposes a new port model based on sustainability, innovation and port-city integration, while guaranteeing port operations and the supply of the islands. In this regard, the APB has held meetings in recent months with social entities, unions and economic sectors to incorporate their contributions and ensure a balanced approach to the plan.
The Port of Palma plays a key role in the Balearic economy, handling millions of passengers and tons of goods annually, making it a critical infrastructure for the connectivity and supply of the archipelago. In this regard, during the meeting, the president of the APB, Javier Sanz, highlighted that: “The redevelopment of the Port of Palma is important for the future of our logistics network and is essential for strengthening the competitiveness of the Balearic Islands. Collaboration with Baleària and the entire sector is key to developing a modern, efficient port model that is fully integrated with the city, but this project not only guarantees supply, but also promotes key industrial activities such as shipyards and vessel maintenance, one of the pillars that still sustain the productive economy of the Balearic Islands.”
Both organisations agree that the project will help to strengthen the archipelago’s logistics chain, which depends on maritime transport for over 98% of its supplies, and to bolster strategic sectors such as the nautical industry. The Port of Palma and its surrounding area account for the lion’s share of the Balearic Islands’ recreational boat repair and maintenance sector, an industry that generates skilled employment and added value on the islands, with an annual turnover of over €1.1 billion and more than 5,000 direct jobs.
Likewise, the project includes the reorganization of port spaces to reconcile commercial activity, passenger traffic and the development of new areas intended for citizen and economic uses, maintaining key infrastructures such as the three docking points necessary to guarantee logistical operations.
Regarding this approach, the chairman of Baleària, Adolfo Utor, stressed that: “This project represents a key opportunity to strengthen the maritime connectivity of the Balearic Islands, both in passenger and freight transport, guaranteeing a more efficient, reliable service adapted to the needs of citizens and the economic fabric. Actions like this are essential to ensure the archipelago's supply and improve its competitiveness in an increasingly demanding environment.”
The meeting reinforces the joint commitment of the Balearic Islands Port Authority and Balearia to advance a collaborative model that will allow for a strategic and sustainable transformation aligned with the present and future needs of the autonomous community.
Progress on the Palma port redevelopment project
The process to determine the future of the Port of Palma recently took a significant step forward with the launch of the tender for the Master Plan, which attracted a total of 13 multidisciplinary teams comprising 42 local, national and international companies. This high level of participation highlights the interest generated by an action considered strategic for the evolution of the port and its integration with the city.
The competing teams have extensive experience in urban and port transformation projects, including interventions in landmark waterfronts, which anticipates a high technical level in the proposals that will be developed within the framework of the competition.
The procedure is structured in two phases. In the first stage, the Balearic Islands Port Authority will select a maximum of five finalist teams from among the submitted applications, especially valuing their experience and technical expertise. The selected teams will then be required to draw up a preliminary technical and financial proposal setting out specific solutions for the reorganisation and transformation of the port; these will be assessed based on criteria such as sustainability, economic viability, technical quality and urban integration.
The plan is to have the final draft available by the beginning of 2027. The team ultimately selected will be responsible for drafting the Master Plan that will set out the roadmap for the redevelopment and modernisation of the Port of Palma over the coming decades, as part of a project that aims to cover an area of around 400,000 square metres and move towards a more efficient, sustainable model that is better integrated with the city.
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