THE APB TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO DESARROLLOS CONCESIONALES INSULARES S.L. TO MANAGE THE SMALL BOAT DOCK AT THE PORT OF LA SAVINA
18/12/2018In yesterday's meeting, the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) approved to propose the company Desarrollos Concesionales Insulares S.L. to manage the small boat dock at the Port of la Savina for a one-year period, extendable for a further 12 months. This company's proposal was considered the most cost-effective solution by the APB and was granted administrative approval to operate a total surface area of 12,492,80 m2,service building A, the control tower building and the adjoining changing rooms and toilets in the public domain area of the port linked to the fishing dock at the Port of la Savina. The water surface area currently allows for 91 moorings. Two bids were submitted to the tender and the rate plus improvements proposed by Desarrollos Concesionales Insulares S.L. comes to a total of 813,936 euros per year.
THE APB TO AWARD CONCESSION TO MAHON MARITIME CLUB TO MANAGE THE MOORINGS AT THE D'EN REYNÉS BOATYARD IN THE LEVANTE DOCK AT THE PORT OF MAHON
18/12/2018In yesterday's meeting, the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) approved to propose Mahon Maritime Club to manage the d'en Reynés boatyard in the Levante Dock at the Port of Mahon for a one-year period, extendable for a further 12 months. Its proposal was considered the most cost-effective by the APB and was granted administrative approval to operate a total surface area of 10,900 m2, with 224 metres of mooring line and 48 mooring points with a capacity to secure boats up to 30 metres long in the water surface area. Four bids were submitted to the tender, three of which were accepted. The rate plus improvements proposed by Mahon Maritime Club come to a total of 166,373 euros per year.
THE PORT AUTHORITY OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS SIGNS THE PROTOCOL WITH THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, THE ISLAND COUNCIL AND THE TOWN COUNCIL OF IBIZA FOR THE CREATION OF THE SEA AND FISHING MUSEUM OF IBIZA
12/12/2018The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has signed the protocol of actions with the Government of the Balearic Islands, Ibiza Island Council and the Town Council of Ibiza for the creation of the Sea and Fishing Museum in Plaça de sa Riba in Ibiza Town. The minister of Culture, Participation and Sports of the Regional Government, Fanny Tur, the chairman of Ibiza Island Council, Vicent Torres, the mayor of Ibiza, Rafel Ruiz, and the president of the Port Authority, Joan Gual de Torrella, were responsible for signing the protocol that will turn the Sea and Fishing Museum into a reality, a proposal that has also been promoted by the Cultural Maritime Association of Ibiza and Formentera, with the main aim of recovering traditional boats and making part of the history of Ibiza known to the citizens. All of the organisations involved in this project have agreed to carry it forward with these actions: the APB will hand over the area of the port of Ibiza where the different traditional boats are to be moored, Ibiza Island Council will be in charge of the management, the Town Council of Vila will hand over the old Foreign Health building and, finally, the Balearic Government will make a financial contribution. Preliminary project of the Museum The Sea and Fishing Museum aims to be an innovative centre, given that the graphic and exhibition elements will be distributed among the Health building, the breakwater dock and the promenade of the port of Vila, according to the preliminary project designer, historian and museologist Antoni Nicolau. The building will be used as the museum venue and will distribute its contents over the three floors: the first floor will contain the reception and an audiovisual exhibition, while the second and third floors will have thematic exhibitions that will change on an annual basis. These spaces will be complemented by the exhibition of traditional boats that will be moored in front of the Plaça de sa Riba and the pedestrian promenade at the port of Vila will be used to create a route with exhibition stations.
PRIZEWINNERS ARE SELECTED FOR THE APB's 9th PAINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
04/12/2018The prizewinners of the popular Painting and Photography Contest run by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) have now been selected. The contest is organised annually by the port authority in collaboration with the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Palma de Mallorca and is very well received by the public, with €8,000 in prizes up for grabs. Over one hundred works were entered in this year's edition, divided into three categories: watercolour, other painting techniques and photography. The winning works were carefully selected from among those entered and will be placed on display at the Military History & Culture Centre of The Balearic Islands from Wednesday 5 December. The exhibition will be on here until 3 January. Afterwards, as is tradition, it will tour the neighbouring islands making a stop in Ibiza, at the Ses Coves Blanques lighthouse in Sant Antoni de Portmany (from 8 February to 2 March), and in Mahon, at the Caixabank exhibition hall (from 11 to 23 March). A national contest This edition had entries from all of the Balearic Islands as well as other mainland cities including Granada, Málaga, Girona, Tarragona and Madrid, among others. First prize in the Watercolour category went to Pablo Rubén López from Madrid for his work Alcúdia. The winner of the Other Painting Techniques was Ana del Valle Ojeda, an artist from Alcúdia, for her pieceAlcúdia Junio 2018. Last but not least, the first prize for Photography this year was awarded to Eva Abril from Menorca for her work Serenor. With the contest's national scope, the APB ensures that the objective set at the very beginning—to capture, by means of visual art, the popular interest that is aroused by places as ordinary and unique as the ports of interest and the lighthouses in the Balearic Islands—is met and grows with every new edition of this contest. Check out the winners and dates of the exhibitions.
LARGEST TRAVEL LIFT IN EUROPE UNVEILED AT STP FACILITIES AT THE PORT OF PALMA
03/12/2018The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) and Servicios Técnicos Portuarios (STP) today presented the new 1,000-ton travel lift, the largest boat hoist in Europe measuring 26 metres long, 12.5 metres wide and 25 metres tall, making the Port of Palma the European benchmark in the vessel repair and maintenance sector. At the ceremony held at midday today in the STP facilities at the Port of Palma, president of the APB, Joan Gual de Torrella, highlighted that the repair and maintenance of boats is a strategic activity for the port authority, "an investment we intend to roll out at the ports of Alcudia and Mahon". Along the same lines, the Minister of Labour, Trade and Industry of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Lago Negueruela, said that "today is a day to feel proud, because thanks to the public-private cooperation, the Balearic industrial sector is growing and the maritime sector is establishing itself as an emerging sector on the Islands". "This industry brings 250 million euros to the Islands –said the Chief Executive of STP, José Maria Campuzano, during his speech– and successfully reduces seasonality, not only in the maritime business but also in the tourism sector". Campuzano also pointed out that it is estimated that 800 direct jobs, 1500 indirect jobs and 600 related jobs are created in his facilities at the Port of Palma, without taking into account the crew on board. In other words, 6 indirect jobs are created for every direct job. In this sense, the president of the APB, Joan Gual de Torrella, said that thanks to the Dual Vocational Training offered by the Government of the Balearic Islands and private collaboration, local skilled labour in the maritime sector may see a significant increase. The largest in Europe The new travel lift, capable of hoisting and beaching boats weighing up to 1,000 tons, also allows works on larger vessels to be carried out simultaneously and speeds up manoeuvre times. On top of this, being able to beach vessels that until now had to undergo refits in the water and subsequent completion on dry docks, frees up space along the mooring line for more boats. Another major advantage is that its height means that large sailing boats can be hoisted without any need to dismantle their stays or backstays. The acquisition of the travel lift was one of the conditions to extend the administrative concession that the APB approved in March 2017 for STP. The modification consisted of the inclusion of a land maritime public domain surface area of 24,422 m2 in the already existing license, 14,743 m2 of which are the land surface area and 9,679 m2 the water surface area, and the extension of the initial term of the license by 5.4 years. By extending the term, the investment commitment by the concessionaire increases to 6.4 million euros.
THE PORT OF IBIZA STARTS THE UPGRADING WORKS ON THE RIBERA DOCK
23/11/2018The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has commenced the upgrading works on the Ribera dock at the port of Ibiza after today signing the variation order with the company TECOPSA (Tecnología, Construcción y Obras Públicas S.A.), the company awarded the contract to carry out the renovation works on this stretch of the promenade. This project, with an allocated budget of 1,039,424.21 euros and a completion period of 6 months, consists of laying down a new paved surface on the stretch between the statue of the Fisherman and Formentera harbour station, which will be similar to that used on the Marina promenade, the works on which were completed in May 2015. The work includes the creation of pedestrian and landscaped areas, the continuation of the bicycle lane and the installation of new lighting. The improvement comes in response to the APB's port-city objective of complementing the port requirements of the dock used for goods and passenger traffic to La Savina with citizens' enjoyment of the port environment. Continuation of the promenade This work, undertaken by the APB, will be complemented by the works to build storm tankswhich are being carried out by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition to improve the channelling of rainwater in Ibiza. Once the tanks are buried, the Ministry will adapt the surface to ensure the continuity of the aesthetic finish of the paved surface. This project to upgrade the Ribera dock does not include the demolition of the current Formentera harbour station, which will remain in place until the future harbour station designed in the current fishing area comes into service.
THE APB PUBLISHES ON ITS WEBSITE THE REAL-TIME AIR QUALITY LEVEL AT THE PORT OF PALMA
12/11/2018The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) launches a new tool that will allow citizens to find out the air quality at the Port of Palma in real time. This is nothing short of a pioneering project, as the Port of Palma is the first that has such an extensive monitoring network –with 113 sensors– with which to measure air quality, offering up-to-date information every hour. The data published on the portal www.portsdebalears.com, in the “air quality section”, forms part of the commitments the APB has made in its Corporate Social Responsibility and Transparency policy and to the community to which it provides the service. The APB has invested 87,000 euros in launching this project –acquisition, installation and maintenance of equipment– and it has collaborated with the Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) in developing the tool. The collaboration started two years ago in July 2016 when the UIB took charge of defining the location and characteristics of the stations. In July 2017, the SmartSensPort-Palma pilot project was launched at the Port of Palma, when a total of seven monitoring stations were obtained to measure the air quality. Each of these seven stations has nano-sensors that measure CO (carbon monoxide), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), O3 (ozone), PM10 (solid or liquid dust particles) and SO2 (sulphur dioxide). Furthermore, there is a total of 113 sensors at the Port of Palma that report data every ten minutes. This control panel updates itself eight times a day and collects the average hourly value of the seven stations, following the same criteria established by the Government of the Balearic Islands for stations of reference in the Autonomous Community. Last July, after several months of collecting and analysing data by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the UIB, the first conclusions of the SmartSensPort-Palma project were published. These determined that no clear correlation exists between all the activities undertaken at the port and the levels of contamination detected. This gave rise to the commitment of the APB to continue monitoring the air at the Port of Palma and to make the data public, while also extending the tool to the rest of the Balearic ports of general interest that it manages. Installation of the same nano-sensors at the ports of Alcudia, Ibiza, la Savina and Mahon is planned in 2019. This project complies with the Environmental Policy of the APB, which was approved by the body in November 2016.
THE PORT AUTHORITY OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS PUTS OUT TO TENDER THE DEMOLITION WORK OF THE OLD NAVY COMMISSARY AT THE PORT OF PALMA SO THAT THE OCEANOGRAPHIC CENTRE OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS CAN BUILD ITS NEW HEADQUARTERS
26/10/2018The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has put out to tender a contract to demolish the old navy commissary located at the Old Harbour of the Port of Palma so that the Oceanographic Centre of the Balearic Islands (COB) can build its new headquarters. The tender budget for said demolition work at the Port of Palma is 359,364.62 euros and the completion period is four months. The deadline to submit tenders is 19 December 2018. Those interested can submit their tenders via the APB's Port for Electronic Tenders. Until recently, the space was used as a warehouse and car park for APB vehicles. However, the nine buildings that make up the old commissary are now no longer used. Once the buildings have been knocked down, the APB will transfer the space over to the COB so it can build its new headquarters, as stipulated under the agreement formalised last May regarding the creation of an innovative marine science and technology hub at the Old Harbour of Palma. Subsequently, and in compliance with said agreement, the APB will transfer another plot to the Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System (SOCIB). Both headquarters will therefore be located at the Old Harbour of Palma, an area which will be dedicated to port and marine activities driven by the Marine Hub project. Marine Hub The aim of the Marine Hub project is to open up the Port of Palma to science and citizens, providing a port space to oceanographic and marine research. The APB will hand over this space of the Old Harbour of Palma to the headquarters of the SOGIB and the COB, driving the sector of marine R&D&I at the Port of Palma. This commitment is in line with the agreement made by the APB's Board of Directors to dedicate the Old Harbour of the Port of Palma to port and marine activities. http://www.portsdebalears.com/es/noticia/firmado-el-protocolo-para-la-creación-de-un-polo-marino-de-innovación-en-ciencia-y
THE LLEBEIG LIGHTHOUSE ON SA DRAGONERA RENOVATES ITS LANTERN
26/10/2018After functioning for almost half a century, the lantern of the Llebeig Lighthouse has been replaced by a new one. The renovation of this lantern has entailed an investment of 100,000 euros by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), which includes its construction and delivery. The company, Mediterráneo Señales Marítimas, was entrusted with these tasks. The lantern arrived at the Port of Palma and was taken, using special transport and coordination with the Civil Guard, to Andritxol, Sant Elm. Subsequently, it was taken from Sant Elm on the Island of Mallorca by helicopter. The stainless steel and glass structure was then put into position, where the operators had previously protected the lens with scaffolding. While the helicopter went to collect the dome, the operators fixed the piece to the structure of the lighthouse. The dome was then positioned and the operators took charge of connecting the lantern. Finally, the dome was fixed into place. The APB painted the new lantern white to pay homage to the original one. The old lantern dates back to 1969. It has been dismantled and will soon be taken to the Permanent Maritime Signalling Exhibition at the Porto Pí, where it will be restored and put on show for visitors. The light of the Llebeig Lighthouse will be substituted by a distress beacon, offering support to sailors, for however long the lantern replacement work lasts.
THE PORT AUTHORITY OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS TO BEGIN IMPROVEMENT WORKS AT LA SAVINA PORT IN NOVEMBER
23/10/2018The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is set to begin improvement works in November that cover the conditioning of roads and pedestrian access areas at la Savina Port. The aim of this project is to boost the port's appeal as a place to stay, equipping the area with points of interest, and with a focus on upgrading pedestrian and bike routes. The port's current status as a place of "transit" will be abolished by incorporating various points of interest at the port with a view to improving the reception and presence of tourists and locals alike at la Savina and Formentera Port. The president of the APB, Joan Gual de Torrella, highlighted that “the works will be carried out in two phases to avoid interrupting the 2019 tourist season. The first phase will cover the remodelling of the main accessroutes to the docks and to the whole sea front of la Savina, where there is a concentration of hotels, businesses, restaurants and other activities. The second phase, expected to begin in November 2019, will complete the works to improve pedestrian access ways and areas up to the fishermen's zone. UTE Hermanos Parrot-Asfaltómeros was awarded the contract with a budget of €5,432,915. Works are expected to last for ten months. Lastly, progress on the drafting of APB's Strategic Plan for the Navigation and Port Council of la Savina was presented in today's meeting. It is also worth recalling that the aim of this Strategic Plan is to define the forward-thinking strategies to enhance the quality and efficiency of services provided at the ports.
The Fundación Turismo Palma 365 and the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands meet the demand for information of cruise passengers that dock at the city's port
22/10/2018This morning, Joana Maria Adrover, Councillor of Tourism, Business and Employment, and Joan Gual de Torrella, President of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, revealed the new tourism information office, located at Harbour Station number 2 at the Port of Palma. The project is the result of a collaboration between both institutions. The APB has formed a part of the Foundation's board since 2012. The president of the Port Authority stressed that in recent years the APB has undertaken different collaboration projects with the Foundation and that this year the focus has been on creating this new tourism information office. The office, budgeted at 73,000 euros, aims to meet the needs of tourists that dock at the Port of Palma and that seek information of interest. The works company, Mejora, Servicios y Proyectos Integrales SA (MESPISA), was awarded the contract. Furthermore, Gual de Torrella said that the APB, since 2012, has given the Foundation over 16,000 euros in cash and has undertaken actions totalling over 280,000 euros at the Port of Palma, such as installing pergolas to shade the jetty walkway and covering fees for the occupation and use of Palma's wifi network at the Seafront Promenade, among others. As the councillor explained, this initiative aims to provide more personalised and up-to-date information to cruise ship tourists, as well as to contribute to redistributing tourism flows from the city. Furthermore, the office will also sell tourist activities taking place in Palma and in other tourist destinations in Mallorca. In this respect, Adrover said: "we are progressing in improving management, modernising the welcome services for tourist and citizens and strengthening the aim of the Foundation, which is geared towards fostering the projection and external image of the city that is a year-round destination, having a different, competitive and high-quality urban offering." The office will be open according to the scheduling of ships arriving at the Port of Palma, which is drawn up by the APB. This month, it will give tourism information services to passenger of around 77 cruise ships, including, for example, Norwegian Epic and AIDA Stella, which have a capacity of 5,500 passengers. Furthermore, Adrover said that the management concession of the tourism offices was awarded last August to the company Eulen S.A. Palma currently has three tourism offices located at Palma beach, Parc de ses Estacions and at Parc de la Mar.
