News APB | Ports de Balears

The APB adapts direct management berths at the Port of Palma

12/12/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has launched an adaptation and improvement plan regarding anchorage for the direct management berths in several areas of Portitxol, San Magín and Ca’n Barbarà at the Port of Palma. With an investment of 351,711 euros and a four-month execution period, the works will provide berth users with a renovated and up-to-date infrastructure for their boats. In the Portitxol area, prior to starting the works, the floor area was cleaned in order to guarantee suitable progress of the works. The works, which will be entirely undertaken on the docks and dock pontoons of direct management of the APB at the Port of Palma, will comprise the adaptation of mooring elements: changing dee shackles in bad condition, improving anchorages, and the changing of chains and guide ropes, etc. Owners may see their boats provisionally relocated to another berth indicated by the APB during the period planned for each improvement. The works are to be completed within four months and will give direct jobs to eight people.

The APB commits to complying with the Law on the Reuse of Public Sector Information (RISP)

11/12/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has made public its open data system. With this initiative, the organisation commits to complying with Law 37/2007 on the Reuse of Public Sector Information (RISP) that affects all public administrations. The first step was to draw up a RISP Plan regarding the reuse of information and, subsequently, to publish an open data catalogue that contains the official data set of the APB, allowing any interested party to access it. This data set is represented through standard and reusable formats. The information is available on the APB website in the Open Date section, as well as on the Spanish government's website (datos.gob.es). In the open data section, we will find information relating to port activity (statistics, ships in the port, etc.), corporate data (annual report, job offers, etc.) and commercial activity (rates, tariffs and bids, etc.), among other aspects. This process finalised with the first data load. It is a live process that will continue to be updated as new data, statistics and publishable public information are registered. The accessibility of this information may contribute to economic growth and to the creation of new jobs, as well as providing a more transparent element and greater democratic involvement.

The port of Ibiza has a new border post

05/12/2017

The Immigration and Border Police have new offices for border control at the Port of Ibiza now that the The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has materialised their request to install and adapt the existing port facilities to current police requirements “in order to carry out border management in a proper and effective manner”, as National Police Chief Inspector Luis Alfonso Fernandez put it. In the mid-2015 Schengen self-assessment process of Spain’s external borders, it was concluded that the Port of Ibiza lacked sufficient police facilities and thus the necessary infrastructure to effectively perform proper border management. Another factor the APB took into consideration when undertaking this facility was the increase in the number of vessels calling at the island from countries not belonging to the Schengen Area, accompanied by a steady increase in the number of travellers. Therefore, it decided to refurbish the border post at the Port of Ibiza and declare it a Schengen external border. Waiting for the new Passenger Terminal The police station is currently housed at the provisional Botafoc Marine Terminal, pending the construction of the new Maritime Passenger Terminal. There are currently four National Police officers stationed there: one sub-inspector, two First Class officers and one constable, who now have all the necessary equipment for their work at their disposal. The main duties carried out by the border post include monitoring and control of vessels, passengers and crew-members from third countries, visas and stamping of passports, physical control of recreational vessels arriving at the island from third countries, and being present at loading and off-loading operations of coastal vessels, among others.

The APB participates in the SAMOA project, which provides oceanographic and meteorological information on each port

04/12/2017

SAMOA (Meteorological and Oceanographic Support System of the Port Authority) is the name given to the project launched by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB). The favourable advancement of the project has been confirmed by the innovation department of the port body. The project, which has been co-funded by the port authorities and State Ports, aims to provide the ports with personalised consultation and operating systems regarding oceanographic and meteorological information. The main aim of the project is to make personalised ocean-meteorological information available to each port authority that is adapted to the needs of each one. Knowing the climate situation helps, in the infrastructure design stage of a port, to better establish its parameters, determine the execution plans and to ensure the safety of future facilities, among other aspects. Furthermore, having measurements and forecasts available in real-time ensures safety during the construction stage. Finally, in the operating stage, the data from the SAMOA project optimise the functioning of the facility, its security and the pilotage service. Additionally, the SAMOA project incorporates the data obtained from PORTUS (Coastal Observatory of State Ports) –which comprises 25 buoys, 39 tide gauges, 20 weather stations and 8 HF radars–, and additional data provided by partners of the SOCIB (Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System) and AEMET (State Meteorology Agency). A made-to-measure project for each port authority This system, which will be managed by the administrator of each port, will allow users to access a real-time summary of the measuring stations available at each port, forecasts of the ocean-meteorological situation and users, if interested, can register and receive more specific reports or set up an alert system. There are a total of 18 port authorities participating in the project led by State Ports, which is now in operation. SAMOA can be accessed through the following link: https://cma.puertos.es In view of the significant welcome that this project has received among different users of the port authorities, State Port has initiated the formalities of undertaking a new agreement with said public organisations that want to implement SAMOA II. This new project will have, among other modules, a forecast system based on the climatic conditions and a progress system regarding discharges that may accidentally take place in the port. As such, containment systems, which minimise the effects of such discharges, can be coordinated more effectively. The APB has already told State Ports of its intention to participate in this second project.

New Christmas lights for the Port of Mahon

24/11/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is to renew the Christmas lights at the Port of Mahon this year. An initiative that comes in addition to the recent contract awarded for the maintenance of landscaped areas at the port and which will revamp the port area's image this Christmas. First and foremost, this change entails expanding the surface area where the lights are to be placed. What's more, the tree, which will be moved to Plaza Rochina, has been completely replaced by one that is 12 metres tall. Lights will also be placed in the areas surrounding the Levante and Poniente docks and the cruise port terminal in order to ensure the areas have the same amount of light and offering Mahon locals the chance to go for a pleasant Christmas stroll beside the sea. The investment made by the port authority for these new and improved Christmas lights amounts to €15,000.

Parks and gardens maintenance contract at the Port of Mahon awarded

23/11/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has awarded the contract for garden maintenance services at the Port of Mahon to the company Servia Servicios Integrales S.L.U. The scope of this contract covers the entire port from the De la Mola Fortress to San Felipe Castle. This garden maintenance service contract came into force on 23rd October and will run until 23rd October, 2021. The budgeted contract allocation is 360,000 Euros and will provide direct employment for 5 people and 5 auxiliary companies.

Cruise ship tourism leaves 256 million euros in the Balearic Islands and maintains almost 6,000 jobs

14/11/2017

Cruise ships have an economic impact of 256 million on the economy of the Balearic Islands, which amounts to 1.04% of the Gross Added Value (GAV) and maintains 5,733 direct and indirect jobs. This data is taken from the preview of the economic impact analysis on cruise ships in the Balearic Islands presented this morning by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB). The APB commissioned this analysis with the collaboration of the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca and the Balearic Institute of Social Studies (IBES). It is an analysis covering the period from 2005-2016 and closing with the information gathered until September 2017 and which considers the main actors of cruise ship activity, that is, cruise passengers, crew, shipping companies and consignees, data relating to investments and airport activity. According to the president of the APB, Joan Gual de Torrella, the conclusion from this study is the diversifying and redistributive effect of the wealth this sector generates on our community, and also the level of influence cruise ship tourists have with regards to the destination, where 95% of those surveyed would recommend the Balearic Islands to their friends and family. According to Gual, this study contributes rigour above “emotion” and highlights that there are figures “that would not be produced if there were no cruises” and gave the example that every stopover generates over half a million euros at the destination. Increased spending per passenger According to the economic impact analysis, the average spend per cruise passenger and day is €72 for the cruise passenger in transit, and €155 if we focus on the home-port cruise passenger. It should be noted that the expenditure of any other type of tourist in the Balearic Islands amounted to €112.90, according to data from EGATUR in 2015. In terms of ports, the Port of Palma has the largest impact as it is the only home port in the Balearic Islands. The figures gathered for this port stand at 224 million euros. It is followed by Ibiza with 25 million, Mahon with 6.5, and finally, the Port of Alcudia with 125,000 euros The direct impact per passenger in transit is 62.6 million, while the home-port cruise passenger represents spending of 28.4 million. The expenditure of the crew on these ships is no less representative, as they take advantage of the stops to go shopping at the destination. The analysis sets the ship workforce expenditure at 14 million euros. The sectors that benefit most from this economic activity are accommodation in tourist establishments for home-port cruises, and shopping and bars and restaurants for cruise ships in transit. Asides from the president of the APB,in attendance at the presentation were Francesc Sastre, Professor of Applied Economics at the UIB, Catalina Barceló, director of Studies at the Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca, and Gonzalo Adán, Director of the Balearic Institute of Social Studies (IBES). (Further information in Related files)

The APB preserves the memories of Balearic Island lighthouse-keepers by publishing a book and comic

13/11/2017

This morning at the Portopí Lighthouse, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) presented two recently published works: Faros de sa Dragonera, which is dedicated to the three lighthouses on the island and preserves the memories of families that inhabited them: and A la luz del faro. Testimonio de los últimos fareros baleares, a comic that honours a trade that is soon to disappear. With these books, the APB intends to collect and conserve the experiences of those who inhabited the lighthouses. Furthermore, it also intends to demystify the false belief that lighthouse-keepers are solitary and introverted people. Both pieces demonstrate that lighthouse-keepers are professionals who adore their families and who master an endless range of skills. Joan Gual de Torrella, the president of the APB, explained to those in attendance that the current maritime signalling technology does not require a human presence to undertake the daily work and that the lighthouse-keeper trade is on course to disappear. Gual said: "the will of the APB is, on the one hand, to maintain the interior and equipment of those buildings, and, on the other, to collect the personal testimony of those who have done so much for our safety." Javier Pérez Arévalo, the author of Faros de sa Dragonera, Rif Spahni, photograph of the book, Raimond Jaume, coordinator of A la luz del faro. Testimonio de los últimos fareros baleares and Gonzalo Aeneas, its illustrator, all attended the presentation. Both books can be seen online on www.portsdebalears.com Links: Faros de sa Dragonera A la luz del faro. Testimonio de los últimos fareros baleares

95% of cruise passengers would recommend the Balearic Islands as a holiday destination

11/11/2017

95% of cruise tourists would recommend the Balearic Islands as a holiday destination. This information, which is at its peak in the port of Alcudia (97.4%), is taken from a study led by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) to assess the degree of satisfaction of the clients and users of the ports it controls, as well as establishing the amount of money generated by cruise ship tourism in 2016. This study, carried out by the Balearic Institute of Advanced Social Studies, was performed throughout 2016 using a sample of 2,195 face-to-face interviews. The number of tourists interviewed who had chosen to return to the Balearic Islands for their holidays (79.4% of tourists interviewed), provides further proof of the high level of satisfaction of passengers who have visited Palma, Alcudia, Mahon, Ibiza and La Savina over the past year. Average spending per tourist Research into the average amount of money spent at the destination shows that each visitor to the Balearic Islands spends €72.40. Tourists spend the most amount of money in Ibiza (€80.70 per day). This is followed by Mahon (€73.90 per day), Palma (€72.50 per day) and Alcudia (€66.60 per day). For cruise ships which use Palma as a base, the average expenditure per passenger rises to€154. In this case, accommodation and tourist establishments are the main beneficiaries as passengers either stay the night before they embark or the night after the cruise finishes (€87.81). Shops attract the highest amount of expenditure from tourists in the Balearic Islands, followed by restaurants and guided tours. The latter is particularly important on the island of Menorca, where they are in high demand due to their heritage and archaeological interest. 33.8% of those surveyed went on an excursion in Mahon, compared to 4.1% in Ibiza and 9.9% in Palma. The fact that these excursions are so successful on this island highlights Menorca as hugely attractive destination for tourists on cruise liners which visit the port of Mahon. The same study showed that 57.3% of those surveyed feels that the time they spend on land, just over four and half hours, is not enough to do all they want. Another interesting factor to consider is the expenditure by the crews of these ships. These are made up of workers and staff of the cruise liners, who also take advantage of each stop to do some shopping. The study shows this amount to be €76.20 a day. If you would like to know more, see the document attached to this news item.

Joan Gual de Torrella proposes working in conjunction with the City Council to keep the Bay of Palma clean to the Regional Minister of the Environment

10/11/2017

The president of the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB), Joan Gual de Torrella, has written to the Regional Minister of the Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries, Vicenç Vidal, to propose co-ordinating efforts with the City authorities in order to keep the Bay of Palma clean. In response to recent complaints about the presence of waste and debris along the Palma coastline, the president of the APB’s proposal to the Regional Minister is for action that “will have a more preventive effect, although I am sure that your own technical teams, together perhaps with outside experts, are able to offer suitable assessment and solutions to this problem, which has become the object of sizeable public outcry”- Gual acknowledges. In his letter, Gual points out that the APB already undertakes clean-up operations of the inner port waters with an annual collection rate of 185 cubic metres of waste “generated both by business inherent to the Port and by drain channels, sewage pipes or garbage coming from the open sea”. The president of the APB concludes in his letter, a copy of which has also been sent to the Mayor of Palma, Antoni Noguera, that “enjoyment of the city of Palma along the beachfront promenade with its unobstructed views must be considered an absolute priority for any of the three administrations”.

Close collaboration between the administration and business sector – key to the success of the 2017 cruise season in Ibiza

03/11/2017

Highlights of the overall success of the 2017 cruise season in Ibiza were the absence of overcrowding on the days with the highest number of tourists and the tight co-ordination that exists between the Ibiza Local Council, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, and all agents involved in the cruise industry. These are some of the main conclusions reached this week following the end-of-season meeting with stakeholders held at the Council’s head offices and which marks what is to date the most successful cruise season at the port of Ibiza on record. Those achievements include strengthening awareness to prevent disruptive noise caused by parties on certain cruises and organising proper and efficient distribution of guide maps. The meeting was attended by all agents directly or indirectly connected to the cruise industry in Ibiza, such as the Harbour Master, ship agents, excursion agencies, tourist guides, transportation agents, retailers and law enforcement agencies such as the National Police and Civil Guard, among others. Looking ahead to the challenges facing the sector in the 2018 season, some of the issues to be addressed are the scarcity of taxis in the port area, the need for improved signage for passengers who have not signed up for an on-shore excursion, greater availability of tourist guides, and improved communications with cruise lines. Record season in number of port calls and visiting passengers The most significant data reveal a total of 184 calls at the port of Ibiza by cruise vessels this season, a figure above the 137 that were recorded in 2016 and which is the highest in the history of this port. Likewise, the 343,813 passengers that passed through the port represent another record-breaking figure. The maximum number of cruise vessels the port was able to host simultaneously at any point last season was 4, a situation that occurred twice, on the 6th July and 9th August. For the 2018 season, the number of calls at port is expected to drop slightly to 175, nevertheless still the second best figure after 2017. As far as the number of passengers is concerned, the maximum number is expected to amount to 310,000. The Port of Ibiza continues to offer bonuses designed to encourage cruise vessels to call in the low season, after 12 noon and to repeat at any of the other ports in the Balearic Islands. Good organisation scheme This meeting between the public administration and business was first held last May in order to co-ordinate all activities in the sector and prepare for the forthcoming season. This time, the aim of the meeting was to take stock and analyse data about the number of calls and passengers during the summer months and to exchange information and views in preparation for the 2018 season.

Port Authority of the Balearic Islands to attend the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

02/11/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is planning to attend the prestigious Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in Florida, to be held between the 1st and 5th November 2017, as a means of promoting the nautical sector and the Palma International Boat Show in the US. The aim of the APB’s presence in Fort Lauderdale is to attract more operations for vessels that spend the winter season in the Caribbean and the summer in the Mediterranean, to encourage them to choose Balearic Islands ports to have their vessels maintained and repaired. In addition, the stand in Fort Lauderdale will also contain promotional material for the next edition of the Palma International Boat Show, in an attempt to further its aspirations to become the foremost nautical showcase in the Mediterranean. The aim is to extend awareness of the Palma event among potential exhibitors and professional visitors. The exhibition stand will be shared between the APB, the Institute of Business Innovation (IDI), Balearic Yacht Destination (BYD) and the Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca. The Florida boat show is considered one of the most important international marketplaces for the boating and yachting sector. The announcement was made this morning at a press conference at the Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca. The conference was attended by representatives from all the institutions involved: the president of the Balearic Islands Port Authority, Joan Gual de Torrella the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca, José Luis Rosas the manager of Astilleros de Mallorca, Diego Colón de Carvajal, representing the group of companies attending the fair under the initiative of the Balearic Yacht Destination and the Director General of Industry Policies, Manel Porras. The regional Minister of Labour, Industry and Trade, Iago Negueruela, stressed that the visit to Fort Lauderdale represents the first action in promoting the boating and yachting industry abroad to be carried out by a public-private partnership made up of the BYD group of specialist companies, the Government of the Balearic Islands, the APB and the Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca. It is important to recall that the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is the most prominent recreational vessel showroom in the US and represents the gateway for large yachts to access the American market. More than 1,200 vessels are on show in three million square metres of exhibition halls and 100,000 people are estimated to visit the FL boat show every year.