News APB | Ports de Balears

The Port of Palma as a consensus-based strategic axis for urban integration and sustainability

04/12/2024

The future of the Port of Palma took the spotlight at this morning's forum held at the institutional head offices of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), which was organised by Grupo Serra's specialised newspaper, El Económico. Under the slogan “A consensus project for the city, economy, territorial connectivity and industrial competitiveness”, the forum explored the opportunities and challenges arising from restructuring this strategic space, with the project already underway. Bringing together prominent political, business and technical leaders, the event featured keynote speeches that highlighted the port's importance as Palma's economic, social and cultural driving force. The president of the APB, Javier Sanz, delivered a speech in which he outlined how the port of Palma is to be redeveloped, emphasising the port organisation's commitment to sustainability, urban integration and improved economic competitiveness, as well as the consensus achieved in its approach. During his presentation, Sanz highlighted how this project seeks to balance port needs with the creation of accessible spaces for citizens by promoting cultural, educational and recreational activities in the freed-up areas. “We want the Port of Palma to serve as a model of sustainability and connection with the city. This project not only responds to the economic and logistical challenges, but also to the need to build a more people-oriented port, which is available to citizens and respectful of the environment,” said the president of the APB. The Port Authority's objective is to establish the Port of Palma as a global benchmark for innovation, sustainability and competitiveness. To do so, the project includes a reorganisation of port uses, maintaining ferry activity and boosting the nautical industry in the West dock. New urban spaces will also be created for education, culture and sport, which will democratise access to the port. There are also plans to reduce the environmental impact through renewable energies, clean technologies and energy efficiency. Lastly, this project will strengthen the local economy by consolidating key sectors such as maritime transport and ship repair. A forum to discuss the port's future The forum also included presentations and panel discussions attended by political and business representatives and those from educational, cultural and sporting bodies. The president of Puertos del Estado (State Ports), Álvaro Rodríguez Dapena, highlighted the strategic role played by the ports as driving forces for sustainable development. The Mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, also spoke about the need to integrate the port into the city's urban dynamics, promoting its sustainability and connectivity with the surrounding area. The panel discussions tackled key aspects such as logistical efficiency, the nautical industry's opportunities and port-city integration. Experts such as Matteo Catani (GNV), Adolfo Utor (Baleària), Pedro Suasi (Balearic Marine Cluster) and Albert Forés (Museu Marítim de Mallorca) contributed valuable perspectives on the future of the Port of Palma. A consensus-based project focused on the future The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands conducted a participatory process to define the future of the Port of Palma, where over 65 interest groups put forward their needs and suggestions and reached widespread consensus that reinforces its viability and social acceptance. The project to redevelop the Port of Palma has become a driving force for transformation that strengthens the city's cultural identity, boosts innovation and meets the sustainability objectives established at local, national and European level. The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands once again confirms its commitment to this vision, promoting an intelligent, sustainable and well-integrated port that adds value to the city, its citizens and the natural environment. To close the forum, APB director Toni Ginard summarised the most important aspects discussed by the participants and noted that the word ‘consensus’ was the most frequently heard word throughout the day. “This project represents our shared responsibility to convert the Port of Palma into a benchmark, where sustainability, integration and progress work together harmoniously and benefit everyone,” he concluded.

Port-city Transport and infrastructure Socio-economic development

La Lonja Marina Charter wins the tender to manage the moorings at the Lonja quay in the Port of Palma

27/11/2024

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) reached an agreement at its latest session held last week in Palma to select the company La Lonja Marina Charter to manage the moorings at the Lonja quay in the Port of Palma. The nautical facility will only serve Spanish vessels on the sixth list or foreign vessels exclusively for charter or rental. The Lonja Marina Charter emerged as the most competitive solution of all the bids submitted in the tender to manage an area of over 18,000 square metres of public port space in one of the Port of Palma's most historic areas. The concessionaire will invest around €3.5 million for an eight-year tenure and will contribute an annual amount of more than €1.6 million in occupancy and activity fees. Environmental improvements La Lonja Marina Charter has managed this nautical facility since 2009 and is now committed to refurbishing and upgrading existing quays and pontoons, as well as installing office, workshop and storage units. Highlights of the project include the environmental improvements committed to minimising water and electricity consumption, cleaning the water surface, improving marine biodiversity, as well as installing solar pergolas to produce almost 220,000 kilowatt hours per year.

Transport and infrastructure

The APB raises the barrier on the Marina promenade of the Port of Ibiza on 1 December for the entire winter

27/11/2024

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) will raise the access barrier to the Marina promenade in the Port of Ibiza on 1 December to allow road traffic to pass through. With this, the APB upholds its agreement with the Ibiza Town Council to boost mobility and facilitate parking during the winter months. This is the same initiative that was very successful last year. Car parking on the Marina promenade will continue to be allowed 24 hours a day, although there will be a two-hour limit between 8 am and 10 pm in order to encourage vehicle rotation. Motorists will be required to place a piece of paper in a visible place in the car with the start time of the parking period. The spaces reserved for loading and unloading will also be kept to support commercial activity in the area. By repeating this initiative, the APB and Ibiza Town Council have responded to the positive response from citizens, local residents and shopkeepers. It is also a sign of their collaboration to facilitate mobility and offer greater comfort during the winter months.

Port-city

The APB puts the restaurant at Menorca’s Artrutx lighthouse in Menorca up for public tender for 15 years

21/11/2024

At its last meeting, held yesterday in the port of Palma, the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) approved, the specifications and clauses governing the public tender for the management of an establishment providing tourism services in the Artrutx lighthouse (Menorca). This time, the administrative concession will be for a maximum of 15 years. The Artrutx lighthouse restaurant opened its doors in 2009, the only lighthouse in Menorca and just the second in the whole of the Balearic Islands to provide such a service, together with the one at Formentor (Mallorca). Ever since it opened, it has been managed by the granting of short term authorisations. The purpose of this tender is to choose the best solution for the granting of a concession for the exploitation of several spaces, including several rooms in the lighthouse building, the lighthouse keeper’s house, a warehouse and annexes, as well as its terraces. The annual amount of the occupancy fee will be 22,144 euros and an activity fee of 4% of turnover has been established.

Transport and infrastructure

The management of the Botafoc moorings in the port of Eivissa is put out to tender

21/11/2024

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) agreed at the meeting held yesterday afternoon in the port of Palma to approve the specifications and clauses that will govern the public tender for the administrative management of mooring places, the service station, the dry dock area and commercial premises at Botafoc, in the port of Eivissa. The duration of the concession will be two years, renewable up to a maximum of three years. At present, the Special Plan for the Port of Eivissa is being processed, which conditions and precludes a call for tenders for the granting of a concession, with long terms of 20 to 30 years that would allow the amortisation of the significant investments that this installation requires. Specifically, the reorganisation of land and water spaces, the complete renovation of maritime infrastructures and buildings on land, in order to improve the quality of the services provided at this facility. For this reason, the APB is obliged to launch a tender for site occupancy authorisation for a maximum period of three years. It should be noted that the processing of the Special Plan is currently at a very advanced stage, so it is hoped that it will soon be approved. The purpose of this tender is to select the most advantageous solution for the granting of an administrative concession for the management and operation of a plot of ninety-seven square metres, of which forty-three square metres correspond to areas of land on which a series of buildings for commercial use will be constructed, a service station to supply fuel to recreational craft, an area for mooring and repairing boats, and an area providing mooring and repair services for boats. Furthermore, there are more than fifty-four square metres of water mirror where mooring services are provided to 432 boats distributed over five pontoons. The annual amount of the occupancy fee will be 2,215,013.76 euros and the activity fee is established as 4% of the turnover.

Transport and infrastructure

The APB has awarded the concession for the management of the El Molinar dock for small vessels in the port of Palma

11/11/2024

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has granted the concession for the management of the nautical facility in the El Molinar dock in the port of Palma to the company Nautic Assets Developers Team, S.L. The new facility will have sixty moorings for smaller boats of up to eight metres in length, as well as the existing and fully refurbished social building. The awardee company will invest 672,000 euros in the installation of new pontoons and other facilities and will manage the concession for a period of 18 years. In addition, it will take over the management of the building, using the ground floor as a bar-cafeteria-restaurant and the first floor for social and cultural activities. Work on the facility will begin shortly and is expected to be completed in time for the high season in the summer. Nautic Assets Developers Team will contribute 68,000 euros annually as an improvement in the occupancy and activity fees, which is in addition to the amount of 58,5000 euros and 4% of the turnover, as established in the tender specifications. In granting the concession, the APB has honoured its commitment to maintain the dimensions of the El Molinar dock and the type of boats it accommodates, as well as to improve the integration between the port and the city, promote sports activities and ensure that the moorings maintain their social function. Renovated building With regard to the building located in the Molinar marina, the refurbishment work has been completed, and the keys are expected to be handed over to the new concessionaire shortly. From the outset, the APB has been committed to preserving the structure of the historic building, recognising the value of the heritage derived from its history and construction style while at the same time complying with the urban planning requirements set out in the Special Plan for the Port of Palma. The actual state of the structure was much worse than expected, leading to a slowdown in the works and an increase in the budget to 1.2 million euros. This summer, the APB finished the work to clean the seabed of the El Molinar dock, extracting the 1,400 cubic metres of rock and sand that had not been removed since the end of the works to restore the original draught and ensure safe navigation inside the bay.

Port-city Transport and infrastructure

The APB sends a team of fifty plus staff and material to help in the wake of the storm emergency

07/11/2024

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) dispatched its first convoy of volunteers and machinery this week to provide assistance following the storm damage in the Valencian Community. This aid is intended to help the Valencian people and ensure that resources reach the most affected areas, reiterating the APB's commitment to solidarity during this difficult time. The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands has deployed over 50 volunteers, including Port Police officers and staff from the Conservation Department, together with the necessary machinery for the relief work. The detachment will be divided into convoys of six staff members that will work alternately over the coming weeks. Yesterday, the first unit arrived in Valencia, made up of Port Police officers from the ports of Palma and Ibiza. The volunteer team will work in Benetússer, one of the worst affected areas and home to a colleague from the Castellón Port Police who died during the catastrophe. The resources included generators, pumps, support vehicles, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), etc. This specific contribution responds to the needs that the Port Authority of Valencia and the Port Authority of Castellón have made known to the APB over the last few days of ongoing contact. Their current priority is to have skilled staff and heavy machinery available to support the clean-up work and the unblocking of streets and accesses to facilitate the passage of humanitarian aid to the affected areas. APB volunteers will therefore collaborate in essential tasks such as the removal of vehicles and traffic control, reinforcing security and order in this difficult situation. Baleària's collaboration Throughout the emergency response, the shipping company Baleària has helped transport volunteers and the machinery required for the relief work in the areas affected by the disaster. This collaboration has made it possible for the resources and support staff sent by the APB to reach Valencia quickly and efficiently.

Port-city

The APB has awarded the concession for the management of the Ribera Norte moorings in the port of Mahón

31/10/2024

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) agreed, at its most recent meeting held yesterday in Palma, to select the bid submitted by the company La Azulona 2023 as the winning bid for the concession to manage the Ribera Norte moorings in the port of Mahón. It was deemed the best offer presented in a public tender process aimed at improving the facility's infrastructures and sustainability. The project submitted by La Azulona 2023 includes a comprehensive renovation of the facilities, with an investment budget exceeding 8.8 million euros. It also features initiatives aimed at reducing water and electricity consumption, as well as the installation of photovoltaic panels to generate green energy. In addition, advanced bilge and grey-water management systems will be implemented to enhance environmental standards in the port of Mahón. In terms of mooring charges, the proposal offers a significant reduction in tariffs for Mahón-based vessels of up to 8 metres in length, a measure that will considerably benefit its users. The concession, which has a maximum term of 12 years, comprises an area of more than 57,600 square metres of water surface. As for the annual fee to be paid to the APB for occupying the space, La Azulona 2023 offered 1.1 million euros more than the amount stipulated in the tender conditions. Therefore, the new concessionaire will pay the port authority 1.3 million euros per year, plus 4% of its turnover, as set out in the tender specifications.

Transport and infrastructure

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands initiates the reorganisation of the port of Palma

30/10/2024

Today, the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) met in Palma and agreed to initiate the studies and plans for a new project aimed at reconfiguring the infrastructure and uses of the port of Palma, following a participatory process with stakeholders. The solution will have to take into account the four key areas established and agreed upon by all the stakeholders consulted over the past few months. Firstly, it must maintain the current simultaneity of the port operations on the commercial docks, the Ponent-Paraires docks and the West dock to reduce the risk of operational congestion in terms of loading and unloading goods and passengers, particularly at peak times in the morning. Secondly, it will relocate the space allocated for cruise operations to the Ponent-Paraires dock. In parallel, and to the extent compatible with the continuation of port operations in each area, the proposal will also provide for the phased relocation of the repair and maintenance areas to the West dock and within the sheltered waters of the port. Finally, and as an added benefit to the overall merit of the proposal, the new configuration envisages a project to improve the integration between the city and the port, using the spaces freed up by relocating the nautical repair industries that currently occupy the area in front of the Cathedral and the Contramoll-Mollet area, both of which will be earmarked for initiatives relating to culture, training and, in particular, sport, prioritising the need to increase the quantity and quality of spaces given over to public use. At the same meeting, the Board of Directors agreed to initiate the appropriate procedures, including the tenders needed to further define the measures to be undertaken and estimate the amount of public and private investment required. It also gave the green light for plans for the new infrastructures resulting from the reorganisation of the port to be drawn up based on the requisite economic and environmental studies. Broad consensus Last summer, the APB began a series of meetings with representatives of its stakeholders to comply with the requirements set out by its Board of Directors and State Ports, which stipulated that it would support any port development solution fully aligned with the economic, environmental and social sustainability of Palma and the island of Mallorca, and which emanated from a broad consensus between all the political, institutional, economic and social stakeholders within the sheltered waters of the existing port. As a result, between June and October 2024, the port authority conducted a participatory process in which the main themes of the proposal to reorganise the operations in the port of Palma were presented to more than 65 representatives of various collectives. Thus, meetings were held with the nautical sector through associations and concessionaire companies such as APEAM, STP- Servicios Técnicos Portuarios, Astilleros de Mallorca, Balearic Marine Cluster, ADNEA, FANMED, Club de Mar, Naviera Balear, Pantalán del Mediterráneo, Marina Puerto de Mallorca, Marina Cuarentena, La Llotja Marina Charter, the Association of Balearic Nautical Clubs, AENIB and ANADE. In the financial sector, meetings were held with PIMEM, PIMECO, CAEB, the Chamber of Commerce, AFEDECO, and ACOIPAM. While in the social and environmental sphere, the APB met with the Association of Friends of the Maritime Museum, the Ran de Mar Association, the Palma Neighbourhood Association, the Royal Spanish Naval League, the Alzinaires Association, the Palma Fishermen's Guild, the Federation of Fishermen's Guilds of the Balearic Islands, the Passeig Marítim Neighbourhood Association, the Civil Society Forum and ARCA. On behalf of professional associations, meetings were held with the Professional College of Architects, the College of Naval Engineers and the College of Civil Engineers. Lastly, the series of meetings concluded with talks in the political sphere, meeting with several parliamentary groups, including the Partit Popular, PSIB-PSOE, Unides Podem/MÉS per Mallorca, VOX, and the Government's Delegate in the Balearic Islands, Alfonso Rodríguez. A change of course The Board of Directors of the APB unanimously agreed, at a meeting held on 5 June this year, to abandon all environmental procedures related to the 2020 approved plan, which envisaged the concentration of regular traffic in the West dock and the use of the commercial docks for the nautical maintenance industry, and to suspend the contract for drafting the construction projects. The decision was taken after it became clear that some stakeholders, such as the shipping companies and the maintenance industry, disagreed with the substance of the 2020 plan because it failed to address long-term needs. After the APB's Board of Directors decided to halt the implementation of the plan, the president of the APB, Javier Sanz, promised to put forward a new proposal for the configuration of the port of Palma in the coming months, a commitment he fulfilled today and which received unanimous approval.

Environment and CSR Port-city Transport and infrastructure Socio-economic development

The APB is enhancing electric mobility at its ports by introducing new photovoltaic canopies for car parks and adding charging points

29/10/2024

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has installed photovoltaic canopies and electrical charging points for motor vehicles in the ports of Palma, Alcúdia, Mahón and Ibiza. The project forms part of the APB's commitment to sustainability and energy transition and represents a total investment of more than one million euros. In total, the APB now has 49 parking spaces with solar canopies in its five general interest ports: 26 in Palma, 10 in Mahón, 8 in Ibiza and 5 in Alcúdia. A total of 23 charging points for electric vehicles have also been installed, of which 15 are for public use, and 8 are reserved for the APB’s vehicle fleet. The charging points are distributed as follows: 11 in Palma, 5 in Mahón, 4 in Ibiza and 3 in Alcúdia. The public charging points form part of the Balearic Islands’ Electrical Mobility Network (MELIB), managed by the General Directorate for Energy and Climate Change for the Government of the Balearic Islands. The network makes it easier for users to find and use the charging points, which, in turn, contributes to the progress of sustainable mobility in the archipelago. The two companies awarded the contracts for the initiatives were Sampol, which received 532,203 euros to install the canopies, and Elecnor Servicios y Proyectos, which undertook the installation of the charging points for the sum of 541,043 euros. The contracts also cover preventive maintenance, daily remote checks and management of the associated software platform.

Environment and CSR Port-city Technology and innovation

The Port of Ibiza set to spend €19 million on construction works during the low season

28/10/2024

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) will directly and through private initiatives carry out half a dozen projects budgeted at almost €19 million in the Port of Ibiza, coinciding with the off-season and aimed at interfering as little as possible with the summer holiday season. These tasks will begin shortly and their shared goal is to minimise the environmental impact of port activity, in line with the APB's environmental strategy. As such, the aim is to cut down on fossil fuel dependence, reduce carbon emissions and offer a sustainable energy generation alternative. On 4 November, work will begin to improve the Ribera de Ponent access road in the Port of Ibiza. This project will mean that Avenida de Santa Eulària will be extended from the Formentera maritime station to the APB offices. So as not to interfere with the roadworks, several temporary pedestrian detours will be set up as a safety measure. The aim is to improve the area's accessibility and ease the flow of motor vehicle traffic, which will take eight months to complete. The plans include a new cycle lane, which will connect with the current lane in the Carrer Andanes area of the Port of Ibiza. It will also involve a pedestrian pavement that will be separated from the cycle lane by a flower bed. A new landscaped and tree-planted area will also be created, LED lighting will be installed, and new urban furniture will be added. The project forms part of the APB's strategic plan to integrate the port into the city and transform it into an open public space. In order to carry out the project, the port authority signed an agreement with Ibiza Town Council, as some of the work will take place on municipal land. The total budget for the upgrade project is €1.2 million, excluding VAT. Within that amount, €140,000 (including VAT) is allocated for the work to be completed on municipal land. The work has been awarded to the company Germans Parrot SA. Improving passenger facilities New escalators will also be installed on the Botafoc docks in November to replace the existing ones, and the fixed gangways for passenger embarkation and disembarkation will also be upgraded. This work has a budget of €2.6 million and is being carried out to improve passenger comfort and safety conditions, as well as to renovate those elements affected by marine environment deterioration. Two new escalators (one up and one down) will be installed at the end of the fixed gangway near the Botafoc dock, the four existing ones will be replaced and a new lift will be installed. The project also includes providing all flights of stairs with canopies to protect them from the elements. The canopies and handrails will also be replaced and the pavement of the fixed gangways will be restored, as they have deteriorated due to their proximity to the sea. The work has been awarded to the company Valor Infraestructura, which will last seven months and will be carried out in sections, as port operations will be maintained on the docks at all times. Energy efficiency The APB will soon begin another major project in the Port of Ibiza to improve public lighting energy efficiency, which is budgeted at €1.5 million, with funding from the European Union through the Next Generation programme. The new installation will improve lighting levels with low consumption light sources and reduce the number of switch panels, cutting the costs of the electricity bill by over half. The new lighting will also contribute to sustainability and help protect the environment by reducing energy consumption and minimising light pollution. The work will be carried out both in restricted access areas and in public areas which, due to their use and safety, require different levels of lighting. The contract has been awarded to the company Vilor Infraestructuras, S.L., and will be carried out over the next nine months, directly employing 25 people. Shore power connection The private company IGY Eivissa Marina, which has been awarded the contract for the management of large yacht moorings in the Port of Ibiza's Llevant dock, will begin work on the shore power connection for boats. This is a €4.2 million investment, which is subject to the investment offer committed to the APB over the eight-year concession period. This improvement will allow ships to shut down their engines while moored, resulting in a reduction in atmospheric and acoustic pollution. The project also covers improving the ground floor of the Martell building, as well as repairing the walkways along the Alba seawalls annexed to the Abric Seawall and the Port of Ibiza. According to data provided by IGY Eivissa Marina, the work is estimated to last eight months and will directly employ 55 people. While the GVA and the resulting total socio-economic impact generated between 2025 and 2033 by the concessionaire's activity is estimated at €30.4 million (€3.3 million per year), it will directly employ 15 people and generate indirect and knock-on employment for more than 300 people. Renewable energy and sustainability Besides these imminent projects, the APB is planning other operations in the coming months aimed at using renewable energies, such as reducing gas emissions into the atmosphere. Accordingly, a contract worth €6 million will soon be awarded to install the first two electrical shore connection points for ships at the Botafoc docks, which will allow ferries to shut down their engines and use electricity from the grid while they are docked, reducing polluting gas emissions and noise in the ports. In addition, the APB will set up a pilot project, jointly with Ports de l’Estat and with a budget of €2 million, for a wave energy installation in the Port of Ibiza to use the energy from wave movement to generate electricity. This is a renewable source which harnesses the natural resource without depleting the marine ecosystems. Lastly, the APB will install pergolas with photovoltaic panels in the car park of the Botafoc docks at the beginning of 2025, with an estimated budget of €1 million. The aim is to use the canopies that provide shade for vehicles to install panels to generate clean electricity without direct CO₂ emissions.

Environment and CSR Next Generation UE Port-city Technology and innovation Transport and infrastructure

A green hydrogen fuel cell will supply electricity to Maritime Terminal No. 4 in the Port of Palma

24/10/2024

As part of its efforts to reduce the emission of CO₂ gases into the atmosphere, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has started work on the installation of a green hydrogen fuel cell to supply electricity to Maritime Terminal No. 4 (EM4) in the port of Palma. The project follows the guidelines of the EU 2030 Agenda within the framework of the Green Hysland project, an initiative supported by the governments of Spain and the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands. Hydrogen produced using renewable energy at the hydrogen production plant in Lloseta, Mallorca, will be delivered to the installation daily by truck. It’s estimated that the 100 kW fuel cell will reduce CO₂ emissions by 470 tonnes per year, consume 40 tonnes of hydrogen per year, and have sufficient capacity to store the fuel required for the maritime terminal to operate for a full day. The fuel cell will be connected to the electricity mains in order to supply the port grid with sufficient power for EM4, and any surplus will be used to supply the other maritime terminals nearby: EM1, EM2 and EM3. The fuel cell enclosure will include an area for the truck to unload, as well as a separate space for the high-pressure storage of gas. The contract, valued at over 760,000 euros, has been awarded to Green Power, a temporary joint venture formed by Protio Power and Daco Ingenieria. In addition to supplying and installing the fuel cell, the successful bidder is required to measure its carbon footprint and propose measures to reduce or offset it. Sustainable buildings As part of its environmental strategy, the APB is committed to being a benchmark for sustainability and protecting port surroundings by ensuring its maritime terminals generate their own electricity supply using renewable energies. The initiative will go hand in hand with other measures to improve the energy efficiency of EM4, such as installing photovoltaic panels on its roof.

Environment and CSR Technology and innovation