THE APB EXTENDS ENVIRONMENTAL AND NOISE POLLUTION CONTROLS TO THE PORTS OF IBIZA, LA SAVINA, ALCUDIA AND MAHON

THE APB EXTENDS ENVIRONMENTAL AND NOISE POLLUTION CONTROLS TO THE PORTS OF IBIZA, LA SAVINA, ALCUDIA AND MAHON

Palma

14/06/2019

The APB (Port Authority of the Balearic Islands) has awarded a contract to Kunak-Labaqua to implement a system that monitors air quality and noise pollution at the ports belonging to the APB. As such, the APB meets its commitment to extend to the ports of general interest of Alcudia, Mahon, Ibiza and la Savina, the air quality control that has been undertaken at the Port of Palma since 2017.

The budget of the contract awarded to the joint venture comprising Kunak-Labaqua, amounts to around €443,589.81 and will last for two years.

Within a maximum period of six months, the contracted company will supply and install 25 systems with sensors to monitor the air quality and noise pollution at the ports of the APB. The data collected by these systems will be immediately recorded and incorporated into a software platform made available to the APB. Eight new systems will be installed at the Port of Palma, replacing those currently in operation, six at Ibiza, four at Mahon and Alcudia, and three at the Port of la Savina.

The systems have remote connectivity using the GPRS or 4G communication networks so that they can transmit information in real time. Furthermore, they also incorporate a calibration mechanism that helps to make remote adjustments. The systems continuously take samples and calculate the average concentration of emissions and noise levels during a specific period of time.

The monitoring stations will be equipped with alarms for each parameter that will be activated when environmental or noise pollution exceeds the thresholds or maximum limits. The aim is to create reports and light indicators that help in determining the actions and measures to take at any given time, whether gradually or immediately.

In 2015, the APB signed a collaboration agreement with the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB). In 2016, it awarded a contract to the University-Business Foundation to provide technical assistance in designing and supporting the implementation of a network measuring pollution and noise at the Port of Palma. The network was implemented in 2017. Furthermore, it also took charge of the estimate and the ideal location of the sensors at all of the ports managed by the APB. The APB allows the public to see the air quality at the Port of Palma on the website www.portsdebalears.com. There is a control panel on the website that is updated eight times a day and collects the average hourly value of the stations at the Port of Palma.

The APB, in accordance with its environmental policy, has designed an environmental management system that has recently been certified by AENOR. One of its main aims is to monitor air quality, by measuring emissions in the air at different areas at the port, and noise levels.