The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands suspends the occupancy and activity charges for its concessionaires and authorised companies

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands suspends the occupancy and activity charges for its concessionaires and authorised companies

Palma

21/04/2020

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has temporarily suspended the occupancy and activity charges normally paid by all of its concessionaires and authorised companies, while the state of alarm decreed by the Spanish Government to manage the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 is still in force.

In addition, the APB has gone one step further and has automatically withdrawn the licences in force authorising the occupancy of public port land with tables and chairs for outdoor cafés and restaurants. This measure is especially targeted at businesses, such as this type of establishments, which are not allowed to open as a result of Spanish Royal Decree 463/2020, of 14 March, declaring the state of alarm. This advance, ex officio withdrawal of these licences means that, while the state of alarm lasts or their activities are not allowed to resume, these companies will not have to pay any fees.

In a memorandum sent to its customers, the APB also pointed out that “even before the state of alarm was declared, the port authority had not invoiced any occupancy or activity charges for 2020, even though these charges are normally paid in advance”. This means that no concessionaire or authorised company has yet paid any amounts in this respect.

Financial aid for companies

In addition, the APB is already approving payment plans for concessionaires who are having difficulty making payments that were already due before the state of alarm was declared. These measures are being taken by the port authority in the five public ports it manages to "alleviate the difficult situation" that its concessionaires and authorised companies are going through.

In addition to these measures that the APB is already implementing, such as the temporary suspension of the payment of port charges, the approval of payment plans, the advance withdrawal of licences to use public port land for outdoor cafés and restaurants, other measures adopted by the Central Government may be taken to help ports in the light of the crisis caused by the Covid-19 virus.