News APB | Ports de Balears

Retired APB workers set up an Association

15/10/2015

Retired APB workers (Balearic Islands’ Port Authority) want to keep their linking with the company, so they have constituted an association consequently, made up of at least hundred partners. There are only two retired workers’ associations of port authorities currently: Balearic Islands and the pioneering association in Tarragona. Pedro Bonet is the first president of this brand-new association and Pep Durán is its vice-president, although both recall this association is an idea of Miquel Serra and Tomeu Garau, deceased colleagues in APB. Pedro was the lighthouse keeper of Portopí during 20 years –the last person living inside– and also the lighthouse coordinator. “All notes labelled in Portopí lighthouse museum until 1998 were made by me”. Pep was Port Police and “Alfa” also, this is to say, Chief of Section of Port Police during 38 years. He was also member of the Board of Directors of APB for two years, being the legal representative of the workforce. “I like to say port was like a big orchard with agriculturists, where everyone does his job. we did a bit of everything”. Over the years everything has changed. “When I was Guardhouse Chief, Olga Peñalver –first woman becoming Port Police– began”. And also with Pedro, the first woman – Margalida Frontera– as lighthouse technician. After decades of experiences, they wanted to keep their linking with APB. With this new association they’ll participate in company activities and also stay in touch with other colleagues. They go on field trips every three months, visiting a lighthouse of the island “We have gone around all the lighthouses yet”. Pep Durán and Pedro Bonet at APB headquarters.

Balearic Island’s Annual Report online on the website

07/10/2015

Balearic Island’s Port Authority (APB) has just published its 2014 Annual Report, together with the Sustainability Report , showing activity’s institution. To meet its commitment of transparency about APB management, Annual Report are also published in a digital version for public consultation. Throughout these two documents, APB give an account of financial statements, technical features of our five general interest ports, works or general public authorized activities, traffic statistics, execution or finished works, summary of investments, port uses’ information, regular shipping services, companies and port services, together with value creation details of APB towards its interest groups. APB, attached to the Ministry of Development and Public Works, maintain a strong link to Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands. Maritime Authority, National State Administration, State’s ports and Balearic Islands’ leading institutions such as Balearic Islands’ Government, Island Councils and Palma de Mallorca City Council in addition to CAEB Business Confederation, Chamber of Commerce, Provincial Maritime Activities’ company Association (APEAM) and UGT Trade Union are represented in the Management Board.

MSC Cruises celebrates call number 100 of MSC Preziosa in Palma de Mallorca Port

07/10/2015

MSC Cruises celebrates call number 100 this season in Palma with MSC Preziosa cruise’s arrival. A ship call is done every Wednesday with the cruise ship coming from Cagliari (Italy). MSC Cruises will break the record of ship calls in Palma de Mallorca Port done with the same company and in the same season, surpassing 120 visits. Joan Gual de Torrella, president of Balearic Island’s Port Authority (APB), celebrated the continuity and reliance of the Italian shipping line who “is demonstrating the satisfaction caused by the fact of having a destination such as Balearic Islands for their customers”. As for Emiliano González, General Manager of MSC Cruises, declared “Celebrating our call number 100 in Palma de Mallorca is a matter of pride and reflects the interest of MSC Cruises in Mallorca Island and Mediterranean, where our ship cruises sail the whole year. Palma de Mallorca has been consolidated as one of the most appreciated destination by our customers in Western Mediterranean Sea”. MSC Cruises commitment with Balearic Islands’ capital is reflected by the fact that within the whole year 2015, nine of the twelve ship cruises will call in Palma de Mallorca -MSC Splendida, MSC Prezio-sa, MSC Magnifica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, MSC Fantasia, MSC Musica, MSC Divina y MSC Opera. MSC Preziosa, with a displacement of 139.072 tons, was built in 2013 and is 333 m length, with a capacity up to 3.502 passengers and 1.388 staff on board. Average speed is 18kn. This flagship has won the “Best Mediterranean Ship Cruise” prize, given by “Premios Excellence de Cruceros” in a ceremony in Palma de Mallorca last March 2015. MSC Cruises is characterised by the huge invest in quality services. Its Palma de Mallorca stop-over is part of a Mediterranean eight-days-route with calls in Valencia, Marseilles, Genoa and Civitavecchia. Shipping agent is Trascoma Baleares, member of Verlio Group.

Balearic Islands’ Port Authority (APB) allocates EUR 260.000 to enhance a dozen lighthouses in Mallorca.

05/10/2015

Balearic Island’s Port Authority (APB) has awarded Obras y Pavimentos MAN the contract to improve enclosures and interior renovation of some lighthouses and beacons in Mallorca island with a total value of EUR 257.990 A total of 14 actions have been planned, covering ten lighthouses -Alcanada, Cala Figuera, Capdepera, la Creu, Portocolom, Cap Gros, Cap Blanc, Formentor, Punta de l’Avançada y ses Salines-, three beacons -des Morro de sa Carabassa, Punta Plana y sa Puntassa- and a dwelling in Port d’Andratx used for Maritime Signals. Project implementation will have a 5 months estimated duration counted from initiation date of the improvement works. Work execution will not affect maritime traffic nor port operation.

Renewal of the APB Board of Directors

28/09/2015

Balearic Islands’ Government has appointed the members of Balearic Islands’ Port Authority (APB) Board of Directors following Administrations’ proposal. Decision was made last September 25th during Governing Council and has been published in Balearic Islands’ Official Gazette (BOIB) on September 26th 2015. Members of the Board of the four Balearic Islands’ Government representatives have been renewed, four members of the Board representing Islands’ Councils have also, together with member of the Board representing Palma city council. Public Organism State Ports has also renewed the member of the Board. Therefore, APB Board of Directors is hereby set up as follows: Chairman: Joan Gual de Torrella Guasp. Director: Juan Carlos Plaza Plaza. Vocals: Harbour Master: José F. Escalas Porcel. In representation of the General Administration of the State: Rafael José Torres Gómez. State Lawyers: Ignacio Landa Colomina. State Ports Institution: Nuria Gaitón Redondo. Balearic Islands’ Government: Marc Pons i Pons Jaume Mateu Lladó Maria Antònia Truyols Martí Josep Mallol Vicens Mallorca Government: Antoni Mir Llabrés. Menorca Government: Vicenç Tur Martí. Ibiza Government: Rafael Ruiz González. Formentera Government: Jaume Ferrer Ribas. Palma de Mallorca city Council: Antoni Noguera Ortega. Chambers of Commerce of Balearic Islands: José Luis Roses Ferrer CAEB Enterprises Association: Carmen Planas Palou. APEAM Marine Enterprises Association: Miguel Puigserver Lloberas. U.G.T Trade Union: Miguel Capó Parrilla. Secretary of Port Authority: María Antonia Ginard Moll.

APB invests EUR 690.000 in port protection and security

25/09/2015

APB invested EUR 690.000 in both port protection and security last 2014. APB works in partnership and close cooperation with other Administrations and companies belonging to port community, such as shipping agents, cruise companies, Guardia Civil –Spanish military police–, 112 emergency department, Firemen, 061 IB Salut, Maritime Authority, City police, National Police, General Direction of Emergencies of the Balearic Islands…etc. Aim is to adopt plans of action and specific measures to address the inbuilt port activity risks. Last September 23th, a man was rescued from drowning thanks to an early intervention of Port Police and Ibiza Harbour Pilots near harbour mouth. Harbour Pilots took him out of the water and port agents revived him at port dock by using a hand bump (ambu). In the meantime, 061 was urgently called for an emergency support, thus facilitating the fast arrival of the ambulance with the sanitary equipment to take over the patience. Port Police on duty put acquired resuscitation knowledge into practice, something learned in Balearic Islands’ Port Authority (APB) promoted courses. It is precisely the held security and rescue training course in March this year.

“Dia de Nassos”, NGO ‘Sonrisa Médica’ day at Palma harbour

24/09/2015

NGO hospital clowns’ association, Sonrisa Médica (Medical Grin), celebrates his “Dia de Nassos” (Red nose day) next Saturday, September 26th, at Palma harbour with Balearic Islands’ Port Authority (APB) collaboration. Sonrisa Médica’s president, Josep Lluís Vidal and APB president Joan Gual de Torrella, introduces this festive day to thank partners, collaborators and volunteers’ involvement with a serie of leisure and recreation activities such as traditional dance, handicrafts, clown’s NGO performances, cooking classes, batucada…among many othes. Joan Gual de Torrella, APB president, thanked Sonrisa Médica for its work in Mallorca hospitals and made his collaboration available. All activities will be carried out between Moll Vell and Moll de la Llotja of Palma port. Entrance-donation gate is 5 € for adults and 1€ for kids. Timetable will be from 11 to 20h. A trip to Disneylad Paris for 4 persons will be drawn among all the assistants. NGO Hospital Clowns’ association, Sonrisa Médica, Works at Mallorca public hospitals, bringing a smile and music to children and elderly hospitalized patients.

7 cruise ships in Palma’s port

23/09/2015

It is not the first time seven cruise ships coincide in Palma’s port, although it is the first time this match exceeds the number of cruise passengers’. Aida Aura, Aida Blu, Costa Diadema, Island Escape, Mein Schiff 2, MSC Divina and Ryndam, were in Palma port last Tuesday, October 22th 2015, adding up all together 23.200 passengers. First four cruise ships of the list uses Palma port as a port base this season. Economic impact of these visits is very important. Cruise tourists’ expenses are considerably higher than average expenses of the average tourist. Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) is investing in better infrastructures to be able to attend this maritime traffic, promoting big improvements in port services, thus applying important economic incentives. The aim is to strengthen Balearic Islands as tourist destination. The arrival of cruise tourism is particularly evident in the city centre, although more and more cruise tourists visit other municipalities of the islands with the added provided economic benefit. And also from a port perspective, operations to attend to all these tourists is huge. Mooring services, ship owners, shipping agents, harbourmaster tasks, waste collection, tourist guides, passenger security services, among many others, or even tug boats, depending on cruise ships size and weather conditions, are activated in Balearic Islands’ ports.

Meeting with Francina Armengol, president of Govern de les Illes Balears

21/09/2015

Joan Gual de Torrella, president of Port Authority of Balearic Islands (APB) has been granted an audience by President of Balearic Islands’ Government, Francina Armengol, in order to discuss current issues of general interest ports. This has been the first official meeting since taking up the office as president of Balearic Islands’ ports. Balearic Islands’ Government, together with Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera Councils and Palma de Mallorca City Council are members of the Management Board of Port Authority of Balearic Islands.

2014 APB accounts published in the Official State Gazette

18/09/2015

Spanish Official State Gazette has published Balearic Port Authority (APB) accounts 2014. APB Ended the 2014 tax year with a 16.8 million € profit, 31% lower than fiscal year 2013 when profit was in excess of 24 million €. This decrease is due to the fact that the Port Authority lowered fees in an effort to stimulate economic activity. The reduced fees, designed to benefit the public, were principally applied to ships, cargo and passenger travel. On the other hand, 2014 turnover was around 61 million €, while the entity remains financially stable and debt-free in the long term. The set of Financial Statements were approved by the Board of Directors at their last meeting on June 30th, and the public sector business received a favourable report from the Intervención General de la Administración del Estado. The full detailed accounts, along with the audit report, can be viewed on the APB’s electronic office, which can be accessed by visiting electronic office. APB manages public ports in Palma, Alcúdia, Maó, Eivissa and la Savina de Formentera. One of its main responsibilities is the management of maritime and terrestrial operations as they relate to traffic, and construction works and services in the ports.

More than 3.300 users have accessed the APB’s Electronic Office since June

15/09/2015

More than 3.300 users have accessed the Electronic Office of the Port Authority of Balearic Islands (APB) since the 12th of June 2015. More than 31.100 pages have been visited, 131 payments have been made and 8 complaints and suggestions have been sent. All the transactions of the Electronic Office are certified and are done through a safe channel and through an acknowledged public office. The most common transactions are those related to the contractor’s profile, the payment of fines, complaints and suggestions and diverse proceedings. Information and processing services are currently being offered to the users through the APB’s website, either through the home website or through other websites. A total of 45 transactions can be accessed, including the application for registration in the Register of Contractors, application for charter authorisation, for the provisioning of ships or the occupation of premises and offices, for the buying of fishery products in the Fish Market or for the provision of commercial services.

Palma will receive in 2016 the Harmony of the Seas of Royal Caribbean

11/09/2015

In 2016 Palma port will receive theboat Harmony of the Seas of the company Royal Caribbean, a cruise similar to the Allure of the Seas which has conquered everybody with its magnificence: 361 metres of length. The Harmony of the Seas has been built in 2015 and has a capacity for 5.400 passengers. Its arrival at Palma harbour consolidates the bet of the shipping line for the Balearic Islands. This is one of the novelties that the president of the PAB, Joan Gual de Torrella, has presented at the Seatrade Europe 2015, the largest cruise exhibition of the north of Europe, which is being held in Hamburg until the 11th of September. The Balearic Islands participate in the institutional stand Ports of Spain of State Harbours, which develops a campaign under the slogan “Blue Carpet: discover Spain on a blue carpet”. In fact, in 2016, Palma will also consolidate as the home harbour for other important companies such as Tui Cruises (with boats like the Mein Schiff 2) and Aida Cruises (with the AIDAblu or the AIDaura). Joan Gual de Torrella is attending this international fair with the intention of knowing the requests of the shipping lines for the following years and offering the necessary services in the harbours of general interest. “We want to consolidate the strengths that place us amongst the lead harbours in the reception of cruises, but we also travel to Hamburg to analyse the opportunities that will allow us to offer a better service to the shipping lines, to the cruise passengers and to the cities where they dock. Two million of passengers The Balearic Islands will almost reach the numbers of two million of cruise passengers and 795 cruise layovers in 2015, according to the estimate of the Port Authority of Balearic Islands (PAB). These numbers represent a rise of the 26% and 17% respectively in comparison with the data from the end of the fiscal year 2014. Palma is the port with the highest number of cruise calls: 475 in 2014, which will be probably 573 at the end of 2015. That represents a rise of the 20,6%. Consequently, the number of cruise passengers rises a 29,5%: from 1.336.512 in 2014 to 1.731.582 at the end of 2015. Ibiza is the following port in the reception of tourist cruises. 2015 will be closed with 123 cruise boats, in comparison with the 109 of 2014, which represents a rise of the 12,8%. The number of passengers have also risen a 15,28%, from 172.185 to 198.488. The number of cruise calls and passengers will decrease slightly at Mao port according to the predictions, with 85 cruise calls and 79.089 passengers in 2014 in comparison with 84 cruise calls and 64.100 passengers in 2015. In percentage terms the decrease is of the 2,3% and 19% respectively. La Savina port in Formentera would go from 6 to 10 cruise calls (a 66,6% more) and from 875 to 1.714 passengers (95,8%) more. In this case we are talking about small cruise boats that can anchor in authorised places and to which the Port Authority of Balearic Islands gives service. Finally, Alcudia would rise from 2 to 5 cruise calls and from 1.058 to 1.380 passengers in 2015 balance. Port’s investment Ports’ investment has already been planned. In Palma, West dock (Moll de Ponent) will be expanded, and the Maritime Station n.6, used mainly as a home port by the cruises arriving at Palma, will be built. On the other hand, Ibiza will have in 2016 two new docking lines that will allow for the arrival of cruises of large dimensions. A line for cruises of up to 375 metres and a second line for boat trips of up to 328 metres. Also in Mao port different investments that will allow the mooring of cruises of up to 280 metres long will be made. “We have to offer the best service to cruise boats. They have to be welcomed appropriately at the harbours because they are the doorway to our islands”, in the words of the president of the PAB.