The APB promotes the comprehensive transformation of the port of Palma with an ambitious redevelopment project
A new port model that encourages sustainability, innovation and port-city integration in Palma
Palma
19/12/2025- Port-city
- Technology and innovation
- Transport and infrastructure
- Socio-economic development
The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has published the tender documents for the Port-City Integration Master Plan for the port of Palma, an ambitious project that will change the appearance and function of the port, positioning it as a key driver for the economic, social and environmental development of the island. The transformation, which will cover an area of 400,000 square metres, is based on a solid, shared and widely agreed vision, the result of an intense process of dialogue with more than 60 economic, social, institutional and citizen interest groups.
The restructuring of the port of Palma, which seeks to create a new port model that integrates seamlessly with the city, promoting sustainability and improving the quality of life of citizens, is based on four fundamental strategic lines. The first of these, the diversification of freight and passenger traffic, aims to optimise port traffic, ensuring its correct synchronisation with the logistics chain. The APB handles around 18 million tonnes of goods and around 7 million regular line passengers annually in the port of Palma, an essential activity for the supply and connectivity of the Balearic Islands. These operations will mainly focus on the West Dock, the Poniente Quay and the Commercial Quays.
Secondly, with a focus on the concentration of the nautical industry, it seeks to reinforce the port's role as a benchmark in the sector, with the West Dock as the nerve centre of nautical industrial activity. This sector brings together some 800 companies, generates an annual turnover of €1.1 billion and employs around 5,000 people, consolidating its position as one of the main economic drivers linked to the port.
Cruise activity will be centralised on the Poniente quay. With more than 2 million passengers and some 500 stopovers a year, the port of Palma is preparing to offer a smoother and more pleasant experience for tourists and residents alike.
Port-city integration is another pillar of this project. The commercial docks, the Old Dock and the Contramuelle-Mollet will be transformed into spaces accessible to all, promoting public and civic use of the port environment. The area will feature extensive green spaces, recreational areas and spaces for social, cultural and educational activities. In this regard, the relocation of the Dual Nautical-Fishing Vocational Training Centre is particularly noteworthy, as it will significantly increase the number of places available and respond to a demand for training that is currently five times greater than the existing supply. In addition, a second building is reserved for university degrees. The project also includes the new municipal sailing and canoeing school, the first of its kind in Palma, designed as an educational and sports training centre and integrated with a high-performance centre.
The project also places a strong emphasis on innovation and knowledge. Infrastructures such as the headquarters of the Balearic Oceanographic Centre, the new headquarters of SOCIB (already in operation), a nautical innovation building called Sand Box and a knowledge transfer centre will be installed in the Commercial Docks and the Old Dock.
In terms of heritage, the project includes the restoration of the historic Riba promenade, demolished in 1965, and the stone-by-stone relocation of the Riba lighthouse to its new location at the end of this avenue, as part of an effort to preserve the historical memory of the port and restore a significant part of the city's identity.
The entire area will feature outdoor community leisure spaces, large green areas and open spaces designed for public enjoyment. The redevelopment of the port of Palma will be based on criteria of sustainability, efficient mobility, preservation of the water surface and connection with other urban spaces, moving towards a model of a green port that is fully integrated into the city.
The tender process for the project begins today with the submission of the specifications to the State procurement platform and the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). From this, five candidates will be selected to draw up a technical and economic preliminary project, with the final preliminary project expected to be ready before the summer of 2026.
The transformation has already begun
The transformation of the port of Palma has already begun with various actions that mark the start of this reorganisation, including the remodelling of the promenade, the modernisation of the Club de Mar facilities, the creation of a new industrial area on the western breakwater, and the renovation of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands facilities. The design of the new Mallorca Maritime Museum and the redevelopment of Portitxol are also underway.
With this project, the port of Palma will be consolidated as a model of sustainable and innovative port, contributing to the development of the city and the island as a whole.
Related documents
