News APB | Ports de Balears

APB's Board of Directors agrees to halt the 2020 project approved by the previous Pact administration to analyse a change of direction regarding the Port of Palma's redevelopment

05/06/2024

The Board of Directors of the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) has unanimously agreed, at a session held this afternoon in the Port of Palma, 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. Likewise, a decision was made to suspend the technical assistance contract for drafting the construction projects and the corresponding environmental procedures for the berths and esplanades for ferry traffic in the West dock, as part of this plan. They have also approved the liquidation of the works carried out to date derived from the previous redevelopment plans for the Port of Palma. Partial postponement During the same sitting, APB's Board of Directors unanimously decided to postpone the decision to begin drafting the relevant studies and projects for a new proposal to reorganise the Port of Palma until the next meeting. This would include stimulating the ship repair and maintenance activity in the West dock, improving the flow of regular freight and passenger traffic, as well as increasing the spaces destined for port-city interaction. Other points agreed upon include urging collaboration with the other administrations and organisations involved to improve the land accesses to the port. Regarding the subsequent superstructures and installations required to operate and run the port public space, emphasis has been placed on ensuring that these are carried out efficiently, with the highest quality of service, safety and respect for the environment. As such, the Board of Directors is committed to guaranteeing the operational and logistical capacity of freight and passenger transport. As reported yesterday by the APB, the Port of Palma's reorganisation and modernisation, which aims to strike a balance between port uses, space utilisation to improve maritime traffic and the ship repair and maintenance industry, is currently being examined, agreed and approved by the public administrations, business and trade union organisations, the port community and other stakeholders.

Transport and infrastructure

The APB begins seabed cleaning at the Molinar dock in the Port of Palma

03/06/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) begins cleaning work on the seabed at the Molinar dock in the Port of Palma this week. The aim is to restore the inlet to its original depth. This maintenance measure follows the accumulation of sediments, including sand and marine vegetation upwelling from the sandbanks and surrounding grassland. Coastal dynamics are also causing more sediment to be brought in from outside the harbour. The lack of depth and the Port of Molinar's current layout compromise the safety of boats and users, while at the same time hindering nautical activities in the area. Likewise, the correct launch of the facility authorised for use by the Balearic Sailing Federation and the new marina for small boats at the Caló de'n Rigo dock also depend on the completion of this depth recovery project. The work is scheduled to last two months and the investment is more than €200,000. SERPROSUB (Servicios Profesionales Submarinos) has been awarded the contract to carry out the seabed cleaning. Concession in place At the same time as the seabed cleaning, rehabilitation work is expected to be completed on the historic building that was once owned by the Molinar Maritime Club and which is part of the nautical facility. Following the completion of both projects, Nautic Assets Developers Team S.L. will be awarded the contract to manage moorings for small boats up to 8 metres in length. The successful bidder will invest €672,000 in new pontoons and other facilities and will manage the contract for a period of 18 years. It will also take over the building, which will be used as a bar-café-restaurant on the ground floor and for social and cultural activities on the first floor.

Transport and infrastructure

APB notifies Trasmed that the night-time noise levels of the Ciudad de Granada ferry in the Port of Maó are above the legal limits.

03/06/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) has advised Trasmed, part of the Grimaldi Group, that the noise emissions generated by the Ciudad de Granada ferry at the Port of Maó exceeded the legal limits for night-time hours, based on the results of the studies carried out last April. However, the measurement results show that the regulations were complied with during the daytime period of the ship's stay in the Port of Maó. The shipping company, has decided to anchor the vessel outside the port overnight this Saturday, while awaiting further tests to be carried out before proposing corrective measures to reduce the disturbance caused by the noise. On 21 April 2024, the Eurofins Cavendish SLU laboratory carried out a noise emission inspection on the Ciudad de Granada ship at the Cós Nou berths in the Port of Maó. This was done to ensure compliance with the noise emission limit values set out by current regulations. The APB commissioned this assessment, which was carried out as a result of complaints received from several Maó citizens and after becoming aware of the results of a sound level measurement report carried out in January by the Maó Local Police. According to the report, the noise levels generated by the activity of the vessel in the port of Maó exceeded the limits established in Royal Decree 1367/2007, of 19 October, implementing Law 37/2003, of 17 November, on noise, in terms of acoustic zoning, quality objectives and acoustic emissions. As such, the document confirms that the Ciudad de Granada ship's port activity impacts the façade of residential buildings, and also recommends additional measurements. Trasmed's response After being informed of these results, Trasmed told the APB that it will request further measurements of its own before suggesting corrective measures to be adopted or applied so that noise does not exceed legal levels, bearing in mind that on 21 April, the Ciudad de Granada and the Ciudad de Palma, also operated by the same shipping company, were in the Port of Maó. These measurements will be taken on 8 and 9 June. Trasmed decided to anchor the Ciudad de Granada and spend the night outside the entrance to the Port of Maó on Saturday so as to avoid further non-compliance with noise emission regulations during the night. Trasmed has also announced that it intends to adapt the Ciudad de Granada, which has been in service in the Balearic Islands for more than twenty years, to the electrical shore connection system that the APB has put out to tender in the Port of Maó next January. This modification will significantly reduce any noise pollution, since the ship will be able to switch off the auxiliary engines it needs to generate energy for internal use.

Environment and CSR Transport and infrastructure

The APB and Ocibar move forward plans to open 100 mooring places in Marina Botafoch in the Port of Eivissa

20/05/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) and Ocibar, Marina Botafoch's concession holder, have agreed to bring forward the opening of the 100 mooring places available to the APB in this marina during the winter months. This measure is a response to a request from the Pimeef Nautical Association. It aims to improve the operational capacity for users and business owners in the port. Furthermore, it includes an undertaking to ensure that the boats managed by Ibiza Yacht Harbour moored at the Ribera-Ponent quay can use these mooring places from now until 30 May, in case of stormy weather. This change means that the 100 mooring places at Marina Botafoc will be available ten days earlier than in previous years.

Transport and infrastructure Socio-economic development

The APB launches a tender for two cold ironing projects in the ports of Eivissa and Palma

13/05/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) has launched a tender for two projects to build an electrical shore connection infrastructure for ships at the Botafoc docks in the Port of Eivissa and the Commercial docks in the Port of Palma. This technique is called cold ironing and is an alternative for ships to keep their machinery idle, which reduces noise and air pollution while they are moored in the port. The tender for the Port of Eivissa project comes to more than €6.1 million, while the budget for the Port of Palma is more than €2.8 million. The European Union is financing 40% of the investment cost through the NextGeneration funds. Construction is estimated to take 12 months to complete. These two projects provide medium and low voltage power supplies to enable electricity to be fed from the port to the ships that dock at the Pantalán Sur of the Botafoc dock in the Port of Eivissa and in the first outer stretch of the Commercial docks in the Port of Palma. These locations at the two general interest ports already have pre-installations for cold ironing system cabling. The two infrastructures will be prepared to connect a ferry-type ship with a maximum power demand of 1,600 kW (medium voltage) and another fast ferry-type ship with 800 kW (low voltage) to the electricity grid, although not simultaneously. Cold ironing in the ports of Alcúdia and Maó The APB is also working on the installation project for this system which allows direct electrical connection for ships in the ports of Alcúdia and Maó. The project for the Port of Alcúdia opened for tender last November and is currently pending adjudication. This system will provide electrical shore connection for ships docking at the Poniente docks. The budget is €2.6 million. The cold ironing project for the port of Maó will be carried out in Cós Nou. At present, bids are being received, since the invitation to tender was published in March. The cost in this case is €3.4 million. In total, the port organisation will invest €14.9 million to implement cold ironing systems in the ports of Palma, Alcúdia, Eivissa and Maó. The first cold ironing installation The APB launched a tender in 2019 for the first project in Spain for a medium-voltage electrical shore connection for ferries in the Port of Palma. At the end of 2021, trials of the cold ironing system began at the Paraires docks. In the end, the infrastructure will soon be put into regular service for ships docking in this part of the Port of Palma. This installation is ready to connect to the electricity grid (although not at the same time) a maximum power ferry and another fast ferry ship, in much the same way as the two projects that are in the tendering phase in Eivissa and Palma. The system has 275 metres of medium-voltage underground lines, a transformer station and a frequency-elevation substation for electrical hook-up in the service area of the Port of Palma.

Environment and CSR Next Generation UE Technology and innovation Transport and infrastructure

The APB organises the 7th Spanish Port System ICT Conferences in the Port of Palma

10/05/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB), along with Puertos del Estado, organised the 7th Spanish Port System ICT Conference this week in the Port of Palma. Over a two-day period, more than 80 experts in Spanish port technology addressed cybersecurity and digitalisation in public administration. The participants attended 13 presentations aimed at improving aspects related to security and digital management. A key speaker was Chema Alonso, cybersecurity expert, member of Telefónica's Executive Committee and well-known Spanish hacker. Carlota Bustelo, an independent consultant specialising in information and document management, spoke about electronic archiving and the catalogue of procedures. The 7th ICT Conference also welcomed the collaboration of the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), which presented cybersecurity strategies designed for public bodies. Calvià Town Council also took part, explaining the lessons learned after a cyber-attack, as well as the Government of the Balearic Islands, which gave a presentation on non-cryptographic signatures. Working model APB director Toni Ginard stressed that “our biggest challenge in advancing digitisation is the transformation of people in the digital era. We need to manage the change in working models”. In turn, the deputy director of the APB, Santiago Alejos, head of the technological development and innovation department, said that “in a world where technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, our port infrastructures must not only keep up with the times, but also lead the way into the future”. This conference provides an opportunity for the Spanish Port System to exchange knowledge and experiences with the common goal of promoting and analysing the new challenges offered by the current panorama of ICT infrastructures, information security, electronic administration, new technologies, etc.

Technology and innovation

New railings added to the bike lane on Avenida Adolfo Suárez in the Port of Palma

08/05/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) has replaced the bike lane's metal railings on Avenida Adolfo Suárez, in the Port of Palma, to ensure user safety and maintain the lane in good condition. A total of 1,698 metres of railings have been renovated. Work on the improvements was done in two phases. The first began in March and involved the renovation of 1,053 metres of railing, from the APB building to the Anima Beach Palma restaurant. The second phase was completed this week, ten days ahead of the deadline. Works have been carried out from the Anima Beach Palma restaurant to the pedestrian access stairway to Portitxol beach, which represents 645 metres of new railing. The total cost of the renovation project, awarded by public tender to the company Thicorca Herrrería y Construcción S.L., was just over €520,000.

Port-city

The APB adds 75 litter bins made from recycled fishing nets to the Port of Eivissa

06/05/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) has updated some of its urban installations in the Port of Eivissa with the addition of 75 new litter bins made from recycled material extracted from the sea. These bins have been made from old fishing nets which have fallen into disuse. The initiative falls under Serveo's cleaning and maintenance service for the ports of Ibiza and La Savina. At the same time, the company in charge of making the litter bins from recycled material is Fábregas. Renewal of this urban equipment is the port authority's commitment to promoting the circular economy and environmental awareness. It is also an initiative which fits in with port-city integration. Commitment to a circular economy In March 2023, the APB had already installed 8 benches and 8 litter bins in the Port of Palma, which were also made from recycled fishing nets. At that time, it was carried out by the Plastic Free Oceans campaign run by the Gravity Wave association.

Environment and CSR Port-city Transport and infrastructure

The APB takes acoustic measurements while the Ciudad de Granada is in the port of Maó

22/04/2024

This weekend, the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) conducted noise level tests while the Ciudad de Granada was berthed in the port of Maó. The objective is to verify that the measurements comply with the acoustic limits stipulated in the regulations in force for the port area. Javier Sanz, president of the APB, agreed to conduct the acoustic tests in response to the complaints received and the discontent expressed by the residents in the neighbourhoods around the port of Maó. The measurements were taken at various points in the port, both at night and during the day, to evaluate the impact of the noise generated by the vessel on the surrounding dwellings. They will be checked to see if they exceed the limits established in RD 1367/2007. The laboratory responsible for taking the measurements is accredited by ENAC and has proven experience in the field of environmental and marine acoustics.

Port-city

The APB has received a donation of bibliographic material compiled by historian Juan Pou Muntaner

22/04/2024

Coinciding with World Book Day, the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) is delighted to publicise its acceptance of a donation of bibliographic material from the family of Juan Pou Muntaner, a historian who authored numerous works on marine history and the history of Mallorca in the 19th century. The port authority's archive thus contains over a thousand documents that help to provide a historical snapshot of the ports in the Balearic Islands. The donation, made by his nephew José Francisco Roig Palliser, includes magazines, bulletins, textbooks, collections, encyclopaedias and reports on maritime and port-related subjects. Of particular note is a collection of reports from the port of Palma, dating from 1965 to 1997. The donation also includes reports from the Trasmediterránea company (1918-1935) and the Unión Naval de Levante (1957-1981). Most of the documents are originals compiled by the historian himself. However, the Trasmediterráneareports are photocopies collected by Pou Muntaner during his time as an employee of the shipping company, and these particular texts are of considerable historical value due to the years to which they refer. Background The APB first acquired copies of books authored or co-authored by Juan Pou Muntaner in 1975, under the direction of Rafael Soler Gayá. They included Historia del Puerto de Palma de Mallorca (The History of the Port of Palma – 1974), Noticias y relaciones históricas de Mallorca (Historical News and Accounts from Mallorca – 1985), and Siglo y medio de tráfico marítimo en Baleares (Monografías) (One and a Half Centuries of Maritime Traffic in the Balearic Islands – Monographs). Juan Pou Muntaner As a researcher, Juan Pou Muntaner focused his studies on the history of the navy and the history of Mallorca in the 19th century, and his work earned him the Ciutat de Palma Prize for research in 1972. Pou Muntaner also contributed to the Boletín de la Sociedad Arqueológica Lul-liana (Bulletin of the Lul-liana Archaeological Society) and other scientific publications, as well as being published in Mallorcan daily newspapers, such as Baleares, Diario de Mallorca and Hoja del Lunes. His most notable work as a historian was Noticias y relaciones históricas de Mallorca (1985), in which Pou Muntaner provides annual data on the island's economy, production, and industrial and commercial activity.

History Port-city

The APB is putting the nautical bus service in the port of Eivissa out to public tender

22/04/2024

The Board of Directors of the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) agreed at its last meeting, held last week in Palma, to approve the specifications and clauses that will govern the public tender for the provision of the commercial nautical bus service in the port of Eivissa. The maritime transport line runs from the Botafoc area to the centre of Eivissa town (es Martell). The service provides an alternative to land transport that helps to reduce traffic congestion and pollution in the town. The call for tenders to operate the service has been agreed in view of the excellent results obtained in previous years. In April, May and June 2023 alone, around 19,000 cruise passengers used the service, eliminating the need for 760 bus journeys (return journeys included). The contract will be awarded for one year, and the concession fee will be 8,000 euros.

Transport and infrastructure

The APB celebrates World Book Day with an exhibition of Balearic maritime documentary heritage

19/04/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) is taking part in World Book Day on 23 April with a stand in front of its headquarters, following a suggestion from the archive staff. The aim is to make the Port Authority's bibliographic heritage accessible to everyone. There will be a stand to showcase books on maritime subjects published by the APB. Also, comics called Las puertas del mar, “The Gates of the Sea” in English, explaining the importance of ports in the Islands, as well as magnets of the lighthouses of the Balearic Islands, will be handed out. This year's new feature is that everyone who chooses to share photos or videos on social media at the APB photocall will win a book as a gift. All participants will receive a free gift from the port organisation with titles such as: A la llum del far. Testimoni dels darrers faroners balears (By the light of the lighthouse. Testimony of the last Balearic lighthouse keepers), Els fars de sa Dragonera (The lighthouses of Dragonera), Curiositats del Port de Palma de Mallorca (Interesting facts about the Port of Palma de Mallorca) and Els grans ports de les Balears al segle XXI (The major ports of the Balearics in the 21st century). In addition, anyone who visits the stall located in Palma's Moll Vell will be able to view the five ports managed by the port organisation (Alcúdia, Eivissa, Maó, Palma and La Savina) through virtual reality glasses.

Port-city