News APB | Ports de Balears

The APB improves Avenida Adolfo Suárez's cycle lane in the port of Palma

02/03/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) is replacing the metal railings along the bike lane on Avenida Aldofo Suárez in the port of Palma to guarantee user safety and maintain the lane in a good state of repair. A total of 1,053 metres of railing will be renewed. These improvement works will be carried out between the 5th and 25th of March, both inclusive. The cycle lane will remain closed during this period. The work is divided into two sections. The first stretch covers the cycle lane from the APB building in the Moll Vell to the Cuesta del Gas. The second starts at the Cuesta del Gas and ends at the Anima Beach Palma restaurant in Portitxol. Thicorca Herrería y Construcción S.L. was awarded the renovation project by public tender at a cost of almost €300,000.

Port-city

The APB completes work on the Alcúdia port seafront promenade

29/02/2024

Over the last few weeks, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has completed the works on the Alcúdia port seafront promenade. The work involved the removal of one of the footbridges and the wooden pergola above the tourist office, which were part of this area. By knocking down these constructions, the beach will return to its natural state prior to this project, while maintaining the uniformity of the remaining pre-existing structures. At the same time, the second pergola in the middle of the promenade and the second footbridge at the end of the promenade have been renovated. Restoration work was also carried out on the wooden decking that runs along the promenade. The works took three months to complete after initiation in November 2023 and were tendered out to the company Amer e Hijos S.A. for €255,000.

Port-city

The APB awards Igy Gestora Marinas Spain the management contract for large yacht moorings in the Levante basin of Eivissa port

22/02/2024

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) agreed at yesterday's session held in Palma to grant the management concession for moorings of large vessels in the Levante basin of the port of Eivissa to Igy Gestora Marinas Spain, S.L. and to authorise the operation of these moorings, as well as the services building located in es Martell. The same agreement approved by the Board of Directors delegates the approval of the construction project that will carry out the initial project presented by Igy Gestora Marinas Spain in this public tender, taking into account the considerations introduced during the awarding process and included in the conditions accepted by the licensee. Es Martell building The new contract includes the management of 42,152 square metres of surface area - 38,852 m2 of water surface and 2,745 m2 of land - and two mooring lines, a 240 metre line on the Levante quay and another 115 metre line on the east side of the counter-quay, popularly known as es Martell, for the mooring of vessels between 20 and 40 metres in length. The ground floor of the es Martell building will also form part of the concession, measuring some 600 square metres, which may be used for commercial premises for those activities authorised by the APB in accordance with the DEUP (Delimitation of Port Areas and Uses) (mixed use 2: commercial, nautical sports and complementary use). Roof and stairs of the building will continue to be open to the public as before, as will the quay area, where no enclosures or partitions are planned to prevent pedestrian use. The maximum concession period will be twelve years. The initial occupancy fee was 408,019.20 euros per year, to which Igy Gestora Marinas Spain has added an improvement corresponding to 1,325,000 euros, in addition to the 4% activity fee.

Socio-economic development

The Board of Directors appoints Toni Ginard as new director of the Balearic Islands Port Authority

07/02/2024

Following a motion by President Javier Sanz, the Board of Directors of the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) agreed this afternoon to appoint Toni Ginard López as the new director of the public body that manages the Balearic archipelago's ports of general interest. Toni Ginard was born in Palma in 1974 and graduated in Civil Engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Until today, he has been Head of the Planning and Infrastructures Department of the APB since 2021. However, he has worked in different positions related to the planning and development of projects and infrastructures at the APB since 2005, where he has been responsible for several organisational units. Throughout his extensive professional career at APB, Ginard has led more than 500 port infrastructure projects, as well as port-city transformation and interaction projects. Until recently, he has been in charge of Palma's promenade remodelling project, which represents a major transformation of urban space in Spanish ports, as well as in the Balearic capital. Other notable projects of his are the remodelling of the promenade of the port of Eivissa, the Botafoc Maritime Station, also in the port of Ibiza, the remodelling of the port-city area in the port of La Savina, and the transformation of the seafront and the port of Molinar. The latter was awarded the Albert Serratosa 2021 "City and Territory" prize by the Association of Civil Engineers of Spain and a special mention from ARCA (Association of Civil Engineers of Spain), in 2018. Currently, Ginard also works as the vice-dean of the Association of Civil Engineers of the Balearic Islands, which he has been linked to since 2014. Besides his extensive experience in engineering and port planning, having spent more than 23 years as a full-time professional, Ginard has participated as a speaker at more than 20 congresses. He is also the author of several articles in specialised engineering journals, as well as co-author of two books on port-related subjects dedicated to the Mallorcan engineers Pere Garau and Eusebi Estada. Toni Ginard replaces Jorge Nasarre, who has stepped down as director of the APB after almost three years in office.

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

The air quality sensors used in the APB’s ports are declared the most precise on the market

22/01/2024

The equipment used to measure air quality at the five major ports managed by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) was declared the most precise on the market in the 2023 AIRLAB Microsensors Challenge. This aim of this event, which is organised by Airparif, is to evaluate and compare the performance of different multi-pollutant sensors under actual conditions of use. In this fourth edition of the Challenge, the equipment manufactured by Kunak, which is installed in the ports of Palma, Alcúdia, Mahon, Ibiza and La Savina, stood out in particular for its capacity to precisely measure two of the pollutants that play a key role in air quality: ozone (O3) and fine particulates (PM₂). The APB has installed a total of 25 measuring stations at the five major ports it manages. With the aim of improving air quality, the monitoring system and smart environmental platform provide data on air pollution in real time. In line with the principle that “what cannot be measured, cannot be managed”, since 2016 the APB has been working to improve a digital platform that now has the capacity to provide real-time air quality data, as well as alerts to identify pollution hotspots at the five major ports it manages. The platform also makes it possible to calculate the back trajectories of any pollutants identified by the sensors. Other accolades The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC) cited the air quality monitoring and improvement project at the APB’s ports as a successful case study at the 13th edition of Med Days, an international conference that took place in October 2023. The same project also won the international award for the best air quality monitoring network at the 2022 edition of the Air Quality and Emissions Show (AQE), which took place in Telford in the United Kingdom. The AQE is one of the world’s leading trade fairs in the field of air quality and industrial emissions.

Environment and CSR

The works to protect the foundations of the Botafoc dock in the Port of Ibiza are finished in record time

17/01/2024

Today, the works to repair and modify the elements protecting the foundations of the Botafoc dock in the Port of Ibiza were officially declared complete, 16 months ahead of schedule. This morning, the APB carried out the final examination of the works, which were then handed over to an inspector from the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility. The works commenced in November 2022, with the construction of concrete blocks in the Port of Alicante, which were then transported to the Port of Ibiza and laid in May 2023. The final stage of the works came to an end in November last year. According to the timetable set out in the agreement, the works were scheduled to finish in March 2025. The works mark the completion of the project to reinforce the Botafoc dock, which had a final tender budget of 11.3 million euros. The works were completed 16 months ahead of schedule. Reinforcement of the dock Over the past few years, a certain amount of damage to the main mantle of the bank of the Botafoc dock had been observed and subsequently confirmed via the underwater inspections carried out as part of the APB’s five-yearly inspection programme. The aim of the project was to repair and modify the dock’s three constituent sections (base, trunk and head) in order to make it resistant to the current maritime climate, which may have changed since the original maritime climate study was carried out. For the base section, the work consisted of repositioning the six-tonne blocks that sit on the current crown of the bank. Some 1.5 tonnes of rockfill were placed onto this base in order to maintain the slope of the filter formed by the previous blocks. Lastly, a two-layer sloping mantle of 20-tonne blocks was added on top of the previous materials. In the trunk and head section, the original three-tonne blocks were repositioned and a main mantle, comprised of 20-tonne blocks, was laid on top of them. Owing to the nature of the works and the number of elements involved, the project was implemented using sea-based resources: the blocks were made in the Port of Alicante and transported by ship to the Port of Ibiza, in order to prevent any impacts on road traffic and land-based port operations. Botafoc dock The Botafoc dock, 515 metres long and with a maximum draught of 20 metres, has a submerged bank of cubic concrete blocks, formed by 12 concrete caissons. The crown wall with a waveguard is 7 metres above sea level. It is connected to the town by a 1,200 metre-long road. This has increased safety, because the unloading of oil products can now be carried out at a greater distance than before the dock was built. This also allows large cruise ships to dock there.

Transport and infrastructure

The APB repaves the children’s playground at Botafoc in the Port of Ibiza

09/01/2024

Over the last few weeks, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has completed the repaving of the children’s playground at Botafoc in the Port of Ibiza. The new surface makes the playground safer for users, as it combines sand with floated concrete and rubber (which has been installed under the swings). Additionally, at one end of the children’s playground a new feature has been added, consisting of a rubberised play circuit with artificial grass in the middle. Towards the end of last year, work was also carried out to adapt, repave, repaint and add signage to the cycle lane on Calle de Ibosim in Botafoc dock. The work forms part of the plan to maintain and improve the port facilities and enhance integration between the port and the city.

Port-city Socio-economic development

The APB extends Puertos y Litorales Sostenibles' authorisation to operate La Savina harbour's east dock

21/12/2023

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) approved the final extension of the term allowed in the temporary occupation authorisation to operate the eastern dock for small boats in the port of La Savina at its latest meeting, held yesterday in Palma. Puertos y Litorales Sostenibles is the company currently occupying and operating this area, after being chosen as the most advantageous solution in 2021 following a public tender. This most recent extension is for one year and is the second extension allowed by the current authorisation's terms and conditions. Puertos y Litorales Sostenibles manages a surface area of more than 12,500 square metres, with 400 metres of mooring line. It also includes a ground floor building measuring 1,066 square metres made up of commercial premises and arcades, plus 330 square metres of open-air terraces. The occupation authorisation will allow the mooring of 91 recreational boats, from 8 to 24 metres in length.

Socio-economic development

The APB launches a public tender for the commercial operation of the fish market at the Contramuelle-Mollet in the port of Palma

21/12/2023

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) approved the specifications and operating clauses that shall govern the public tender to grant a commercial operating licence for the fish market, located in the Contramuelle-Mollet in the port of Palma, at its last meeting, held yesterday in Palma. This facility has a total surface area of almost 1,900 square metres of public port area. The duration of the contract will be five years. The annual occupancy fee will be at least 24,000 euros, and the minimum activity fee will be five thousand euros a year. The fish market at the Contramuelle-Mollet in the port of Palma is once again being tendered after the APB Board of Directors decided at the same meeting held yesterday to reject the proposal presented by OPMALLORCAMAR as it did not meet the conditions required in the Tender Specifications.

Socio-economic development

The APB launches a public tender to manage two facilities for mooring recreational boats in the port of Palma

21/12/2023

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) approved the terms and conditions and operating clauses for the public tenders to manage and operate two facilities for mooring recreational boats in the port of Palma at its last meeting, held yesterday in Palma. The maximum duration of both contracts may not exceed ten years. The first facility is located between the Local Traffic terminal or Golondrinas wharf and the Mediterranean pontoon, currently occupied by Marina Port de Mallorca. The total surface area is almost 72,000 square metres between the land area and the water mirror. Once the annual occupancy rate has been improved, it will be 950,000 euros. While the activity tax will be 4% of the turnover developed by the operator. The second tender is to manage and operate the mooring posts on the Quarantine jetty. The space covered by this call for tenders amounts to more than 18,000 square metres of public port area. The annual occupation fee, which is to be improved, is 350,000 euros and the activity fee will be 4% of the turnover developed by the operator.

Socio-economic development

The APB launches a tender for the beaching and launching area at Cós Nou in the port of Maó

21/12/2023

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) approved the specifications and operating clauses governing the public tender to grant a concession to manage and operate the area for dry dock and boat launching services, located at Cós Nou in the port of Maó, at its last meeting held yesterday in Palma. The space subject to tender has a minimum surface area of twenty-four thousand square metres of public port domain, which may be extended. The duration of the contract may not exceed twenty-five years. The annual amount of the occupation fee, subject to the possibility of improvements being offered, is 177,000 euros. The activity fee will be two percent of the turnover of the services that must be provided by the concessionaire. Boat repair and maintenance services, in addition to the operator, may be provided by any company authorised by the APB to carry them out. This means that the operator will not have an exclusivity arrangement for providing these services. However, it will have an exclusive arrangement for dry docking, launching and supplies to vessels. The APB has a motorised crane or travel lift at Cós Nou which is used to move vessels of up to 150 tonnes.

Socio-economic development

The Menorcan illustrator, Ivan Triay, designs the Christmas card and the APB 2024 calendar

12/12/2023

Ivan Triay knows the secret of Mediterranean living. In fact, a well-known brand of beer entrusted him with promoting one of its summer advertising campaigns. Indeed, summer and the Mediterranean are a constant theme in the work of this painter, illustrator and graphic designer who was born in Menorca, where everything happens at the speed of his drawings. The APB has commissioned the artist to design its 2024 calendar and Christmas card on the condition that they feature the five general interest ports and several lighthouses, while giving particular prominence to the port of Maó. -Why is it always summer in your work? Have you accepted irreversible climate change? -I've never thought about it... but it's true, it's always summer I didn't even realise. I suppose I associate summer with holidays in Menorca. I've lived in Barcelona for more than 20 years, and I usually spend a good part of the summer in sa Roqueta recharging my batteries, and I suppose it's also where I get the most inspiration for my work... which is why I tend to draw people in short sleeves and lots of sea... Climate change, unfortunately, is already with us, and I think it's here to stay. -The Mallorcan guitarist Joan Bibiloni wrote Una Vida Llarga y Tranquila. Does this title resonate with the existential objective of your characters? -Without a doubt, it's the "good life" as we say over there. It's the summers of the past, those endless holidays... And let's not fool ourselves it's the best way to live, and I would say it's not just the life objective of my characters it's everyone's. -You're already very familiar with the landscapes of Menorca and Barcelona. How did you find drawing Palma, Alcudia, Eivissa and la Savina? -Honestly, it was quite a challenge. I've never been to any of these places, and I don't know them, which makes drawing them a bit tricky. Luckily, you advised me well, and with the help of some pictures I found, I think I've managed to do a good job. -How well do you know the port of Maó? -Very well, although I'm from Ciutadella, I spent a lot of my childhood in Maó. My mother was a nurse who worked for many years in the old hospital, and one of the things I remember are the views of the port from that building. Later, I ended up studying in Mahón. I travelled there every day from Ciutadella. I know the city quite well, and also its impressive port. -And the lighthouses? What do lighthouses represent for a Menorcan like you? -They're the guides that lead us to a safe harbour. They represent safety and the fact that you're nearly home... For me personally, there's one in particular that reminds me of my childhood, sa Farola, the lighthouse at the entrance to Ciutadella port. There’s a little beach next to it and some landings where we spent half our lives... I haven't drawn it in the calendar because it's the one that has appeared most often in my work, and I wanted to draw some of the others. -How did you approach the APB calendar and Christmas card assignment? What did you look for in each port? -I decided to do something different from anything I've done before. I started experimenting with a program called Procreate for digital illustration and found that it produced pretty good results. I've approached both the ports and the lighthouses like a set, a background landscape, giving centre stage to the characters and scenes, which, in turn, interact with the backdrop. Like a kind of self-nourishing cycle.

Port-city