News APB | Ports de Balears

Baleària and Gas Natural Fenosa bring the first natural gas engine in Spain on a passenger vessel to Majorca

02/03/2017

The ‘Abel Matutes ferry’, which crosses to Barcelona daily, has capacity for 900 passengers and more than 2,200 linear metres of cargo This project, which is ground-breaking in Spain, is aimed at reducing emissions and enhancing the quality of the air in both urban settings and in ports such as those of Palma and Barcelona Baleària's Abel Matutes ferry, which runs daily between Palma and Barcelona, operates with the first natural gas engine in Spain on a passenger vessel. In conjunction with Gas Natural Fenosa, the company has sponsored the development and installation of this auxiliary engine, as well as a 30 m3 liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank (with a range of one week). The ferry transformation project took place without interfering in the vessel's operations and routes. The new natural gas engine is integrated in the vessel's electrical deck, allowing it to operate with any auxiliary system and with no visual impact. The vessel uses natural gas during arrival and departure manoeuvres at the ports of Palma and Barcelona, and also for electricity generation while it remains docked, instead of the usual fuel. By applying this system, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are reduced by 40% and nitrogen oxide (NOx) is reduced by 80%, which means annual savings of nearly 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), more than 60 tonnes of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and 6 tonnes of sulphur oxide (SOx). The ferry has a length of 190 metres, capacity for 900 passengers and 2,235 linear metres of ro-ro cargo. The Chairman of Baleària, Adolfo Utor, highlights that this project "represents the first determined step in Baleària's commitment to natural gas". The shipping line has become one of the global pioneers in the use of this product with the construction of three smartships propelled by LNG and an investment of more than 320 million euros. Utor also remarked that the commitment to the environment and the use of non-contaminating energy “is one of the company's strategic decisions”. Joan Gual de Torrella, President of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, felt the initiative was highly positive and hoped ‘that it will open up a new horizon toward more sustainable and efficient sea transport of passengers and freight’. In turn, Daniel López Jordà, Managing Director of Retail Business at Gas Natural Fenosa, stated that the project “is an important commitment to innovation, with the aim of improving the quality of the air in both the city and within the port area. Natural gas will be a key player in upcoming years in the transport sector due to its clear contribution in reducing emissions and particulate matter”. This project is part of the CLEANPORT initiative and is co-funded by the European Union through the CEF-Transport programme. The ports of Palma (Majorca) and Barcelona, as well as the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine, have also participated in the project.

The APB obtains AENOR ISO 14001 certification for its environmental management system

28/02/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has been certified with the AENOR 14001:2015 seal of quality and has extended the scope of the Quality Management System certification in accordance with standard ISO 9001:2015, which both validate that the institution has a quality management system based on the principles of quality and continuous improvement. The APB has designed an environmental management system in accordance with the principles of standard ISO 14001, which guarantees adequate environmental behaviour and fulfilment of all legal and contractual requirements. The aim is to safeguard respect for the environment whilst providing services in the entire public port domain under the responsibility of the APB. Environmental commitment These certifications corroborate the APB's commitment to provide quality services and guarantee that the environmental impact of their activity is as minor as possible. The scope of the Environmental Management System covers the following aspects: - Managing the occupation and use of the Public Port Domain to provide commercial and port services. This includes issuing and inspecting administrative certificates, as well as concessions, authorisations and permits. - Managing the port services, which entail: vessel and ship stopovers, freight and passenger traffic, conservation and maintenance of non-concessional infrastructure and navigation systems, among others. - Managing the implementation of works and projects. This certificate is added to the initial one received by the APB in 2015 for its quality management system and the aim for this year is to enhance the functioning of these two management systems and merge them into one integrated management system covering the areas of quality and environment. Rolling out these management systems will enable the APB to sustainably meet its aims, seeking the maximum satisfaction of its clients and striving for excellence in the services it provides.

The APB puts out to tender the management of mooring points for sport boats during the high season in Moll d’en Pons i na Quefeis at the Port of Mahon

24/02/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Island (APB) has put out to tender the management of mooring points for sport boats in the area of Moll d’en Pons i na Quefeis at the Port of Mahon. The aim of the tender is to grant an administrative concession to operate during the high season a water surface area of 17,508 m2 that belongs to the port. The new area will have a walkway that will connect Moll d’en Pons i na Quefeis by means of the cliff front. The tender announcement is to be published today in the Official State Gazette (BOE), commencing the process of choosing the most favourable bid and the subsequent granting of said concession. The operating term will be for a maximum of fifteen years. The occupancy fee is 16,550.13 euros and the activity fee is 4% of the successful bidder's estimated turnover.

The APB is to accept a proposal by the Molinar de Levante Maritime Club to submit a new project in order to continue its concession

23/02/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is to accept a proposal by the Molinar de Levante Maritime Club to present a project in order to continue operating at the Port of Palma. Joan Gual de Torrella, president of the APB, this evening informed members of the maritime club in a meeting held at the Port of Palma that the project they intend to put forward should meet certain indispensable requirements. These include respecting current mooring numbers and sizes, and giving continuity to the seafront promenade. This new concession could last for a maximum of 50 years. Gual de Torrella has asked the Molinar de Levante Maritime Club to work closely with the authority from today onwards to reach an agreement as regards the new project. As such, the APB seeks to meet the social demand of the club in two aspects: guaranteeing the continuity of the economical mooring plots and the club's sporting activity. The current concession of the Molinar de Levante Maritime Club comes to an end in March 2018.

The APB calls meeting between members of the Molinar de Levante Maritime Club to report on the future of the concession

21/02/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has convened a meeting between members of the Molinar de Levante Maritime Club to lay out the future details of its concession at the Port of Palma. During the meeting, the president of the APB, Joan Gual de Torrella, will inform members of the current status of the concession and will outline the steps to follow to safeguard their activity. According to Gual, "the Maritime Club's withdrawal of the expansion project opens up a new opportunity that must be seized in order to work together". The president of the public body also expressed his desire to meet with all affected members in order to present the APB's plans. The meeting will be held on Wednesday 22 February at 19:30 in the APB conference room at Moll Vell no. 19 at the Port of Palma. Molinar de Levante Maritime Club members wishing to attend the meeting are reminded that they are required to bring accreditative documentation including their DNI and membership card.

Remodelling works get underway on La Savina Harbour Station to enhance service to users and transport companies

15/02/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has begun refurbishing the interior of the Formentera Harbour Station building. The project meets the demand of different transport companies to be able to offer their services to users. This initiative will entail remodelling the ticket desk area and toilets, avoiding having to alter the built area, or the used surface area, since the building for the La Savina Harbour Station is currently found in good condition. This reform involves changing the distribution of various rooms, in turn improving current facilities to allow the port to offer a better quality service to its users and enhance the building's space for transport companies. Works will include replacing flooring and false ceilings, in turn expanding the ticket desk area on the ground floor. The company that was awarded the contract is Ferrovial. The works are to be completed within four months as per the construction plan with a one-year warranty period. The project will provide direct employment to up to 6 people and the total budget is €77.033.

Government delegate, Maria Salom, pays visit to Port Authority of the Balearic Islands

08/02/2017

Maria Salom, government delegate in the Balearic Islands, visited the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands' (APB) headquarters at the Port of Palma this morning. After being welcomed by the president, Joan Gual de Torrella, Salom and her entourage were given a guided tour around the facilities at the APB's headquarters to witness how the different departments work and observe the day-to-day activities of the public body. The government delegate was particularly keen to see the APB Control Centre. Gual de Torrella also provided an overview of the current state of each one of our ports.

The APB installs an innovative mooring monitoring system at Botafoch Marina to prevent collisions with docks and to prolong life span

07/02/2017

The APB has installed a new mooring monitoring system at the Botafoch docks at the Port of Ibiza, primarily intended to control the speed at which the vessels are docked. This application aims to extend the life span of docks and in turn save on the cost of works for subsequent repair. The increased size of cruise ships in recent years, in addition to the fact that the Botafoch docks were initially designed to facilitate service to vessels shorter in length, has driven the APB to back this system, in turn dodging the difficulty and high cost that would be involved in building or adapting new docks to meet these needs. The technological application is based on the installation of laser scanning sensors at each one of the docks connected via fibre optics. The devices receive information from a weather station and two wave and tide sensors installed in the same port area. All data are transmitted and processed to be used by the shipmasters. This entire process can be monitored through a smartphone screen that displays the manoeuvre in real-time. The system provides accurate data including the distance between the vessel and the dock, the approach speed, the vessel's angle of inclination, etc. It also discloses metocean data before and during docking, allowing the captain to anticipate the manoeuvre before arriving at the dock. Among other features the application offers reports from each session, which are sent to the APB, the pilots and shipmasters so that manoeuvres can be managed at all times. The APB currently advises shipping companies to use this system, but it is expected to become an obligatory requirement once the APB's Board of Directors stipulates a speed limit for mooring at these docks.

APB rejects processing of the tender for development of two buildings in the Contramuelle-Mollet of the Port of Palma

02/02/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) yesterday approved the proposal to withdraw from processing the public tender for the development of two buildings in the Contramuelle-Mollet [the Mollet opposite dock area] of the Port of Palma. The buildings in question are no. 2-4 and no. 6, which were going to be given to the successful bidder in order to manage commercial premises. With this initiative, in line with Palma City Council, the APB aims to promote the redevelopment of this area, streamlining its uses and dispensing of any buildings that are not necessary for port activity. Rejecting this project will enable expansion of the Mollet opposite dock area and provide the port with spaces open to citizens, moving closer towards the ‘Port-City’ model sought by many cities of reference.

The Port of Palma organises gas leak safety drill

13/01/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), in partnership with Red Cross and Trasmediterranea, organised a hydrochloric gas safety drill at the Port of Palma today. A major unit comprising emergency services and security forces was deployed to the commercial docks this morning. The drill involved a dummy hydrochloride gas leak from a tank on a platform being transported by Trasmediterranea's boat Tenacia to its destination at the Port of Palma at 8 am. The gas leak poisoned passengers and crew due to inhalation. The Port of Palma's control centre was immediately notified of the events and the port's Internal Emergency Plan (PEI) was automatically activated. Besides the APB and the Directorate-General of Emergencies, the Government Delegation of the Balearic Islands, Red Cross, Trasmediterranea, the Guardia Civil, the Fire Service of Palma, and the Local, National and Port Police all participated in the drill. After assessing the situation, the evacuation procedure was triggered and passengers with visible signs of poisoning by gas inhalation were rescued. Second year students from the Red Cross Vocational Training of Emergency Medical Technicians performed the enactment and, under the guidance of specialist staff, assessed the theoretical-practical training of participants. Initiatives of this sort reinforce the APB's commitment to safety and the smooth implementation of the Internal Emergency Plan at each port of general interest on the islands.

The APB to invest 42 million euros in 2017

11/01/2017

The Business Plan approved by the APB Board of Directors in their last meeting in December outlines an investment of 42.3 million euros for 5 ports of general interest in the Balearic Islands. 16.3 million euros of this sum will be pumped into various infrastructure projects and improvement works of the Port of Palma, including the extension and restructuring works of marine terminal No. 6 and the new developments of the Western docks. Both actions are aimed at improving ground handling services and the activity of passengers on cruise ships docking at the island. The Port of Ibiza is set to receive an investment of 5.1 million euros. 1.5 million euros will be allocated to completing the works of Es Martell. A portion of this budget also covers the initial works of the Botafoc harbour station, as well as the development of projects such as the future restructuring of the port. At the Port of Mahon, which will be granted an investment of 4.8 million euros, it is worth highlighting the work carried out by APB at the Cós Nou dock. The collection of wastewater for subsequent drainage and purification will minimise the environmental impact of this dirty water on the sea. Another portion of 1.6 million euros will be spent on reinforcing structures that sustain the cruise ship dock. A total of 400,000 euros will be allocated to the landscaping project at the Port of La Savina, which entails restoring the current promenade and building a new fish market, due to get underway in later financial years. No new infrastructure is set to be built in Alcúdia in 2017. The budget apportioned to this port will be used to foster projects to be implemented in coming years. What is left of the budget will be poured into general and minor investments distributed throughout the port area.

The APB takes part in Ibiza's Three Kings Parade with a large sailing boat

04/01/2017

Ibiza, 4 January 2017. Everything is ready to welcome the Three Wise Men, or Magi from the East, in Ibiza. The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) did not want to miss this long-awaited event and will take part in the parade with a float in the shape of a sailing boat. With this boat, the APB pays tribute to the intrepid merchants and sailors of the islands who sailed through Mediterranean waters in the 16th and 17th centuries on board ships very similar to this one. Also on board will be the royal pages, essential figures for the Kings in order to carry out the arduous task of giving out presents to the people of Vila. Having expressly travelled from Palma, where it took part in the last two editions of the Three Kings Parade in the city, it is expected that the float will remain in the Pityusic Islands for another few years. The Three Wise Men from the East will arrive at the other APB ports by sea. Arrival will be at the following times: * Port of Palma at 6pm. * Port of Alcúdia at 6pm. * Port of Mahon at 7pm. * Port of La Savina at 4.30pm.