News APB | Ports de Balears

The APB and IMEDEA research benthic biodiversity at the Port of Palma

02/08/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) and the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA) have signed a research contract to analyse the seabed (benthic) biodiversity at the Port of Palma. The project, led by doctors Joan Pons from IMEDEA and Maria Capa from the NTNU University Museum in Norway, aims to compare the number and abundance of species of marine worms (annelid polychaete) present at the Port of Palma with the port areas with less human impact, such as Portitxol, and both with regards to the protected marine area of the Bay of Palma. Marine worms are excellent indicators of water quality. Therefore, the APB and IMEDEA have launched this meticulous study which, besides increasing our knowledge on the biodiversity of polychaete in the Balearic Islands, will be able to detect the presence of invasive species (introduced into the water surrounding Mallorca in boat hulls or in ballast water). Thanks to the results obtained, there will be better management of the biodiversity conservation plans and invasive species will be able to be detected and managed. The data obtained from this study may have a large impact on the Port Authorities, as they are implementing and testing a methodology that can be used in the future, thus maximising environmental control systems and control of the entry of exotic species. In addition, a database will be generated with the species identified, meaning that future monitoring campaigns can be sped up and less expensive. The first samples from the Port of Palma and Portitxol, and also in the marine reserve of the Bay of Palma, were taken in the last week of July. Over 30 sediment and hard surface scraping samples have been processed with the marine worms kept in ethanol for subsequent further study in terms of both morphology and genetics.

APB shows commitment to prevention with informative sun shades for lorries

31/07/2017

Joan Gual de Torrella, President of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), has delivered sun shades to the heads of Baleària and Trasmediterránea showing the most important safety measures that must be observed in the port area. In attendance at the event were Antoni Mercant and Eva González, representing Trasmediterránea in the Balearic Islands and Bruno Ceped, on behalf of Baleària. The shipping companies received 280 sun shades to distribute to their lorry-driving customers who visit the APB ports the most, so as to stimulate prevention and compliance with safety measures. Prevention is one of the most important work areas for the APB and reducing the accident rate in the port area is one of the objectives that this public body strives to achieve on a daily basis. These sun shades are part of a well-thought-out awareness and prevention campaign that the APB is running this year. Its target audience, the lorry drivers who visit the port area, customers of Baleària and Trasmediterránea, can see advice such as obey the speed limit, use high-visibility clothing and exercise extreme caution with pedestrians written on these sun shades, in addition to protecting themselves from the sun.

The APB puts out to tender the adaptation work on the Portocolom, Alcanada and Capdepera lighthouses

26/07/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is putting out to tender the adaptation and improvement works on the roofs of the Portocolom (Felanitx), Alcanada (Alcudia) and Capdepera lighthouses. These works mainly focus on roof repairs and internal improvements. All material that is currently in poor condition due to wear and tear over time will be replaced beams, cladding, paintwork, locks, woodwork, shutters, etc. The new materials used to replace these elements will be specially treated against pests and other agents that could cause early deterioration. Where possible, any roof tiles in a good state of repair will be reused, and the selection of new external elements will respect the traditional appearance of these lighthouses. The works will be completed within 5 months and the budget for the tender is 232, 563.45 euros. Applications can be submitted until 14:00 on 31 July, at the Registry of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (c/ MollVell 3-5 de Palma). More information in the contractor profile.

The APB repairs the fisherman's wharf at the Port of la Savina

24/07/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has awarded a contract for adaptation work on the sea wall and paving of the fisherman's wharf at the Port of la Savina. The sea wall of the fisherman's wharf was part of a Port of la Savina expansion project undertaken in December 1992. The project sought to rearrange ship traffic and to create a new mooring line for smaller vessels. Over the years, the APB has, both directly and through company concessions, undertaken diverse adaptation projects of the wharf, such as the technical dock modifications for smaller fishing and leisure vessels at the Port of la Savina. After several inspections conducted during this period, it has become clear that the sea wall is not in a good condition due to defects in its construction, which would not have been possible to detect were it not for the quality control and monitoring of the works. Therefore, repair and adaptation work of the sea wall and the paving of the fisherman's wharf at the Port of la Savina is to start this autumn. The works under this project have been awarded to Matías Arrom Bibiloni S.L., for €166,000. In addition to this action, another tender process is underway for the adaptation and improvement works of the fishing quay, which has an initial budget of €538,779.30.

The APB puts the demolition works out to tender for the buildings in the Mollet opposite dock area in the Port of Palma

21/07/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has put the demolition works out to tender for buildings No. 2-4 and No. 6-6A in the Mollet opposite dock area in the Port of Palma. This call for public tenders comes after the APB Board of Directors withdrew from the processing of the tender for the operation of these two buildings last February, which intended to make the buildings available to the successful bidder for use as 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 removing any buildings that are not necessary for port activity. The demolition of these buildings will lead to the 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 works have a completion term of 4 months and a tender budget of 605,930.10 euros.

The DEUP of the Port of Ibiza receives approval

19/07/2017

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has approved the Delimitation of Port Spaces and Uses (DEUP in Spanish) proposal for the Port of Ibiza. The proposal was revised and updated in view of submissions received during its processing, which started last November. The APB this afternoon approved the acceptance of said proposal and the response to the reports received. DEUP proposals are instruments included in Article 69 of the Consolidated Text of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy that aim to arrange port space according to its needs. In October 2016, the proposal, which continues to be processed, replaced the one that was initially accepted by the same Board of Directors on 26 February 2015. The document had to be amended with the new uses proposed for the fisherman's wharf and the commercial quays after the agreement reached in August 2016 by the Government of the Balearic Islands, Formentera Island Council, Ibiza Council, the City Council of Ibiza and the APB to relocate the future marine traffic terminal between the ports of Ibiza and la Savina. The APB is to submit the proposal to State Ports so that, after new formalities, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport can finally give it definitive approval.

The bid of Club Náutico de Ibiza chosen as the proposal of greatest port interest for the Port of Ibiza

19/07/2017

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has approved the concession bid submitted by Club Náutico de Ibiza, as the proposal of greatest port interest, to construct and operate a maritime facility at the Port of Ibiza. The technical committee, which was responsible for assessing the proposals submitted in the tender process, considered the proposal of Club Náutico de Ibiza to be of greater interest to the port than any other. The president of the APB was informed of the decision and he submitted it to the Board of Directors for its subsequent approval. The proposal of Club Náutico de Ibiza envisages an investment of 7.5 million euros and a 35-year management term. Club Náutico de Ibiza ended its concession related to mooring management at the Port of Ibiza in 2010. Since then, it has operated in the marina by means of temporary occupational authorisations. In 2015, by virtue of Article 86 of the Consolidated Text of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy (TRLPEMM), Club Náutico de Ibiza presented a bid for a new concession regarding a social maritime facility, with 80% allocation to vessels under 12 metres. Three proposals were submitted in the tender process launched by the APB. In February 2017, the Board of Directors of the APB approved the criteria that had to be followed in choosing the proposal of greatest interest to the port in this tender process. Finally, the technical committee selected that of Club Náutico de Ibiza as the best proposal.

The APB modernises the system for accessing the dry dock ramps at the Port of Palma

18/07/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has modernised the system for accessing the dry dock ramps of Troneras and Roquetas, which are located in the area of Portitxol at the Port of Palma. Users will have to replace their key with a card that they can collect from the APB offices. Port Authority of the Balearic Islands Provision of services Customer service opening hours: 09:00 to 14:00 Address: Moll Vell 3-5 07012 Palma For further information: 971 22 81 53 / prestaciondeservicios@portsdebalears.com

The APB and the Palma City Council present the promenade reform project to hotel sector representatives

17/07/2017

Joan Gual de Torrella, president of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), Antoni Noguera, mayor of Palma, and José Hila, councillor for City Model, Urbanisation and Decent Housing, this afternoon presented representatives of the hotel sector the basic promenade reform project. Inmaculada de Benito, manager of the Mallorca Hoteliers Federation, and Joan Vich, president of the Hoteliers Association of Palma, both attended the event. The project is to be carried out from Avenida Argentina to the Palma Auditorium. The project is a joint initiative between the APB and the Palma City Council to restore the Passeig Marítim as a true promenade and a space that can be used for the leisure of all citizens. The idea is to eliminate one traffic lane in each direction and to increase the pedestrian area. The improvement entails a transformation of the space, widening pedestrian areas close to both the buildings and the beach, widening and improving the bike lane, increasing green spaces and trees, and creating two big, high-quality public spaces near the Auditorium and Plaza Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

Juan Antonio García's last guided tour at the Porto Pi lighthouse

12/07/2017

Juan Antonio García, one of the most emblematic and loved lighthouse-keepers on the islands, retires after dedicating 43 years to lighthouses. Juan Antonio has worked as a navigation support system specialist in several locations around the Balearic Islands, including at the Cala Figuera, Cap d'Artrutx and the Cabo Gros (Sóller) lighthouses. In addition to this work, he also gave guided tours around the permanent Señales Marítimas exhibition at the Porto Pi lighthouse. Today Juan, celebrating his 65th birthday and last day as a lighthouse-keeper, wanted to make the most of the visit of Joan Gual de Torrella, President of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, and Llorenç Huguet, Dean of the University of the Balearic Islands, to give his last guided tour of the lighthouse. The tour will certainly be one of his most memorable. Juan Antonio García said: "I have be able to see how lighthouses have gone from operating with electricity, solar panels and now with LED technology. This automation has meant that there are increasing fewer lighthouse-keepers. There were 26 of us when I started. Now I'm leaving behind just 2." The exhibition room will remain temporarily closed to the public while preparations are being completed for the start of a new era with longer visiting hours that could stretch to weekends. The retirements of Juan Antonio García and Pedro Vidal, a Capdepera lighthouse-keeper, have been the most significant this year.

The APB installs a sensor network to measure air pollution at the Port of Palma

12/07/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) and the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) unveil the installation of a sensor network that will measure air and noise pollution at the Port of Palma with the aim of analysing the environmental impact of port activity. Known as SmartSensPORT-PALMA, this network was the result of the agreement signed last July between the APB and the UIB. The university was responsible for conducting the technical study to install this measurement equipment at the ports of general interest of Palma, Alcudia, Mahon, Ibiza and La Savina, as well as analysing the data collected at the Port of Palma. This first network comprises 8 devices that have been placed at the West Dock, the Porto Pi signal tower and lighthouse, the number 3 Harbour Station, the Can Barbarà dock area, the Sa Quarentena Park, the Mollet opposite dock area, commercial docks and the historic site of the APB. The moment scheduled to start taking measurements coincides with the busiest months in terms of port activity i.e., the number of vessels at the Port of Palma. This helps determine the highest levels of impact of this activity on the atmosphere. Samples will be taken over the course of one year. Once the study has finished, a multi-disciplinary research team from the UIB coordinated by Dr. Bartolomé Alord will analyse the data collected at this Port. The aim is to correlate the air and noise pollution levels with the activity carried out at the port, and determine how this affects the city. President of the APB, Joan Gual de Torrella, said, "we want to check the environmental impact of the port activity and its disruption in recent months due to an increase in the number of cruise ships, and thoroughly study through collaborative efforts with the UIB how the city is affected so that we can act accordingly". Rector of the University, Llorenç Huguet, added that "the team leading the study is an interdisciplinary group made up of specialists capable of conducting a rigorous in-depth analysis of the environmental behaviour of the port". The APB has invested slightly more than €40,000 for the purpose of procuring and placing these sensors, which were then installed by the company Mallorca Wifi. The APB aims to roll out this experience at the other ports of general interest of the Balearic Islands.

Menorca Island Council and the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands sign memorandum of understanding on the Cós Nou access road from the La Mola highway

07/07/2017

Menorca Island Council and the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) have signed a memorandum of understanding on the Cós Nou access road from the La Mola highway. Pursuant to this memorandum, the island institution has agreed to include the road in the new Sectoral Highway Master Plan and the Port Authority, for its part, has agreed to study and begin the process in order for the road to become the property of the Council. In addition, by signing this memorandum of understanding, the will of both administrations to move forward with the improvement project between Sa Colársega and the new road, works that are necessary in order for port traffic to move in a safer manner towards this highway, can be clearly seen. This memorandum of understanding will be accompanied, further down the line, by an agreement allowing the improvement works on the La Mola highway to be carried out with all legal guarantees.