News APB | Ports de Balears

The APB puts the contract for the port bus in the port of Ibiza out to public tender for a period of 15 years

26/06/2025

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) passed a resolution, in its last meeting held yesterday in Palma, to approve the specifications and clauses that will govern the public tender for the management, under concession, of the port bus in the port of Ibiza. The duration of this concession contract will be fifteen years.The service, which has been provided since 2023 under temporary one-year authorisations, is now entering a new phase that will allow for its long-term consolidation and the development of improvements in both operational and environmental sustainability. The tender aims to guarantee a more efficient, accessible service with a lower environmental impact, in line with the decarbonisation and sustainable mobility strategy promoted by the APB.The port bus service offers a priority maritime connection between the pontoon attached to the Botafoc Commercial Docks and the Contramuelle Norte, facilitating the transfer of passengers from the docking points to the city centre. The minimum frequency of the service during cruise calls will be 20 minutes, and the timetable shall be designed to match the ships' arrival and departure times. In addition, bidders may tender for other lines within port waters zone 1 using the embarkation and disembarkation points set out in the tender documents.The tender requires the successful bidder to have at least three vessels, with a total capacity of at least 150 passengers, and to have engines that comply with IMO Tier III international emissions standards. The use of clean technologies and proposals that reinforce the port's environmental commitment will be considered positively.In addition, the concession holder must maintain the facilities, manage waste, ensure accessibility and have modern ticketing and ticket control systems. The service will include physical customer service points and ticket offices, as well as digital solutions for purchase and access.The annual occupancy fee has been set at almost €8,000, while the activity rate is set at 4% of turnover.With this competition, the APB seeks to consolidate an internal maritime transport model that reduces land traffic, improves the user experience and contributes to the port system's sustainability objectives.

Port-city Transport and infrastructure Socio-economic development

OCIBAR will manage the marine sports area of the Botafoc in the port of Ibiza

26/06/2025

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), at a meeting held yesterday afternoon in the port of Palma, passed a resolution to award the company OCIBAR S.A. the management, under administrative authorisation, of the moorings, the service station, the dry dock area and the shopping premises located in the Botafoc area, in the port of Ibiza.The management period granted shall be for an initial period of two years, extendable for a maximum of three years. At the moment, the Special Plan for the Port is at an advanced stage of processing, which envisages, until it is approved, a call for tenders for a long-term concession - between 20 and 30 years - which would allow the significant investments necessary for the complete renovation of the facilities to be undertaken.This tender is intended to guarantee the provision of quality services in the port area during the transitional period, while the new planning process is being finalised. The plot of land under management covers a total of 97,000 m², of which 43,000 m² are land area, with various buildings for commercial uses, a service station for pleasure boats, and an area for mooring and repairing boats. This is in addition to more than 54,000 m² of water surface area, with 432 mooring places distributed over five pontoons.The award envisages an annual occupancy fee of €2,215,013.76 and a business tax of 4% on the turnover generated by the operation of the port services. In addition, OCIBAR S.A. has offered a fee improvement of €8,850,000 per year.With this resolution, the APB ensures the continuity and improvement in the management of one of the most important sites of the port of Ibiza, while waiting for the new Special Plan to allow the area to be comprehensively developed in the long term.

Socio-economic development

The port of Mahón steps up efforts to promote water conservation

19/06/2025

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has revived and intensified its awareness campaign “Every drop counts” in the port of Mahón this summer, aimed at promoting water conservation among recreational boat users.This move is part of the APB's commitment to the United Nations Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. It also responds to the growing need to safeguard water resources, especially in places like ports, where activity increases significantly during the summer months.The campaign targets both mooring permit holders, whether directly or indirectly managed, and visiting boat users who drop into the harbour of Mahón during the summer season.Key initiatives include the distribution of hose nozzles with automatic shut-off to promote more efficient consumption, as well as information leaflets with the campaign's core message. This material has been handed over to the six marinas in the area: Amarres Poniente, Club Marítimo Mahón, Club Náutico Villacarlos, Marina Menorca, Marina Port Mahon and Mô Llevant.The campaign will also be rolled out in the Varadero Mô industrial area and at various official offices located in the port, such as the Harbour Master's Office, the Coastal Authority, the Island Council's Tourist Office and the APB's own offices.The message has been visually reinforced with 30 banners placed on the busiest quays on the south side of the port, reminding both sailors and pedestrians in Mahón and Es Castell that every drop counts.With this initiative, the APB rekindles its commitment to the environment and invites all port users to actively participate in the conservation of such an essential resource as water.

Environment and CSR

The APB and the Palma Local Police coordinate to regulate the occupation of the public domain of the pavement terraces on the seafront promenade

17/06/2025

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) and Palma City Council will implement protocols and action procedures to control the illegal occupation of pavement terraces on the seafront promenade. Among other actions, it is envisaged to coordinate checks by officers on patrol in the area.This morning the councillor for Public Safety, Miguel Busquets, and the director of the APB, Toni Ginard, met at the San Fernando station of the Palma Local Police, along with the heads of their management teams and of the Local Police and Port Police. The meeting served to establish channels of communication between the two bodies, with the aim of achieving better monitoring of compliance with the authorisations for occupation of the public domain by the business premises in the port area.Checks by officers on patrolIn recent weeks. the Palma Local Police, in collaboration with the Port APB - Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, carried out a joint operation to check the occupation of the public thoroughfare by the pavement terraces of the leisure and restaurant establishments on Palma's seafront promenade, Avenida Gabriel Roca.Officers of the Port Police of the Port of Palma, as well as officers from several different units of the Local Police, took part in these operations. As a result of, several charges were brought for unauthorised occupation in the areas owned by the Port Authority and City Council.

Port-city Socio-economic development

The APB launches a tender to manage charter moorings on the seafront promenade of the port of Palma

12/06/2025

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has recently agreed to open a public tender to award the management and operation, under an administrative concession, of mooring berths for charter boats on the seafront promenade of the port of Palma.The tender procedure aims to award the operation of a total area of approximately 18,000 square metres of public port land, located next to the Golondrinas quay. Most of the space will be allocated to mooring around 95 boats that may be over 20 metres in length. The contract also includes a building for toilets and a harbour master's office.The services that the successful bidder must provide include managing moorings for charter boats, supplying water and electricity, including electric chargers for at least 4% of the moorings, and supplying fuel to boats moored at the facility, among other services.The maximum term for the management of the concession will be eighteen years. The tender sets an initial occupancy rate of around €430,000 per year, subject to increase, and an activity rate of 4% of annual turnover.Environmental competitivenessInvestment in infrastructure, environmental improvements such as the use of renewable energies, the quality of materials and the suitability of the environment will also be assessed.In addition, the specifications will assess the most competitive rates in the proposals, differentiated for basic and transient vessels, with different rates for high and low season, calculated in euros per square metre per day.

Socio-economic development

Large crowds turn out for the first Open Day at the port of Mahon

07/06/2025

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is delighted with the response of the Menorcan population to the first edition of the Open Ports Day in the port of Mahon, which saw a large turnout from all sectors of the public. More than forty public, private and non-profit organisations were involved in the port festival which brought the general public closer to the activities of ports of general interest and lighthouses.The president of the APB, Javier Sanz, said he was "satisfied and surprised by the large number of people and the interest we have awakened in the port, which is ultimately what we wanted". Sanz emphasised the numerous activities of various kinds and the displays of port trades which have been concentrated in various locations, "which are the soul of the port, which is what interests us".The event was led by President Sanz, along with the mayor of Mahon, Héctor Pons, the mayor of Es Castell, Lluís Camps, the Minister for the Sea and Water Cycle of the Balearic Islands Government, Juan Manuel Lafuente, and the president of the Menorca Island Council, Adolfo Vilafranca.The APB trophy, which counts towards the Balearic OCR cruiser championship, is one of the highlights of the programme. The sailing regatta, organised by the Mahon Maritime Club, set sail from the harbour in Mahón, right in front of the crowd gathered on the cruise ship pier. Maritime activities such as visits to the pilot boats, Maritime Rescue, moorings and tugboats have been very popular.The visits to the Favàritx lighthouse, the fishing dock, the naval station in the port of Mahón, the military fortifications of La Mola and Marlborough, the King's Island, the mussel farms and the excursions with swallows around the port have also been very popular.There were also activities for children organised by the Mahon Local Police, the 112 emergency service, the Menorca fire brigade and the Port Police, which attracted a lot of attention from the youngest members of the family.Travelling festivalPort Festa-Viu el port is an initiative that the APB launched in 2023 in the port of Palma, which this year was held in the port of Mahon and which next year is planned to be taken to the port of Ibiza, before coming to the ports of Alcudia and La Savina. This is a commitment of the port organisation in its Corporate Social Responsibility policy to unify and reinforce the identity and culture of the ports and to serve as a guide for the rest of the people and companies operating in its installations.

Port-city

The APB celebrates International Archives Day with an exhibition showcasing the beginnings of Palma's seafront promenade

06/06/2025

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) joins in the celebration of International Archives Day with an interesting exhibition on the beginnings of the transformation of the port of Palma with the construction of the seafront promenade. “Sparks from the bay: light from the archives” unearths the original plans from its archives that made the port link road possible, also highlighting the role of lighthouses in transforming the islands’ coastline.On the internationally recognised date of 9 June, the exhibition will be open to visitors at the APB headquarters from Monday until Friday 13 June. On Monday 9 and Friday 13, visiting hours will be from 10 am to 6 pm, while on the other days it will be open from 10 am to 2 pm.This year, the APB Archive is showcasing the 1944 plan, PO.218, showing the road connecting the Ribera Quay in San Carlos with the commercial port, which led to the construction of the promenade. This road was initially designed by the engineer Gabriel Roca Garcías to connect the Old Quay with the port developments that were being planned at that time with the construction of the West dock.The role played by lighthouses in the urban transformation of the archipelago's coastline is also highlighted. The lighthouses of Portopí and Alcanada on the island of Mallorca, Ciutadella in Menorca, Botafoc on the island of Eivissa and La Mola on Formentera have been chosen as examples.The exhibition also includes historical elements of the port of Palma, such as the old Riba lighthouse, the APB's institutional headquarters building and the now defunct Quarantine facilities. Among the documents on display is a reproduction of a Health patent.Historic commitmentFor many years now, the staff of the APB Archives have been celebrating International Archives Day with an exhibition open to the general public of original objects and documents with the aim of highlighting the importance of old documents in the preservation of the historical memory of the port.

Port-city

The Mercadal Town Council, in collaboration with the APB, inaugurates the exhibition "Fareras. The light that guides us" at Cavalleria lighthouse

04/06/2025

Mercadal Town Hall, in collaboration with the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), opens next Friday 6th June at 7 p.m. at theCap de Cavalleria Interpretation Centrethe exhibition "Fareras. The light that guides us", an emotive exhibition curated by the film-maker Cristina Rodríguez Paz, which can be visited until 7 September 2025.This installation is presented to the public as part of the activities organised by the APB on the occasion of the first Open Doors Day of the port of Mahón, which was created with the aim of familiarising the general public with the port and to emphasise the social, economic and cultural importance of ports of general interest and maritime signals for the island of Menorca.The place chosen for the exhibition is Cavalleria lighthouse, where Mercadal Town Council has had a collaboration agreement with the APB since 2015 to allocate part of the lighthouse space for educational and cultural purposes where visitors can learn about several aspects of this spectacular setting in the north of Menorca.Women lighthouse keepersThe exhibition, which was already on display last year at the Maritime Museum of Mallorca's headquarters in Sóller, pays tribute to the 26 women who have officially worked as lighthouse keepers in Spain, making their role visible in a profession historically dominated by men. Through a careful selection of historiographical material and contemporary art works, the exhibition offers a unique journey through the life, work and legacy of these exceptional women.The exhibition space is divided into two distinct areas: one devoted to the first women who lived in lighthouses, with graphic documents and texts that reconstruct their experiences, and the other focusing on the protagonists of the documentary "The light that guides us", directed by the curator herself.Today, only four women lighthouse keepers are still active, and their upcoming retirement will mark the end of a period that began to fade away after the passing of the 1992 Ports and Merchant Navy Act, which made this profession practically obsolete."Fareras. The light that guides us" is an opportunity to explore the confluence between art, history and memory, and to pay tribute to those who illuminated our coasts from the anonymity of lighthouses.

Port-city Transport and infrastructure

The Local Police and the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands bring eight charges in a joint operation to counter the occupation of the public thoroughfare on Palma's seafront promenade

03/06/2025

The Palma Local Police, in collaboration with the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, carried out a joint operation to control the occupation of the public thoroughfare by the terraces of the leisure and restaurant establishments on Palma's seafront promenade, Avenida Gabriel Roca.This operation, which took place last weekend, involved four officers from the Port Police of the port of Palma, as well as officers of several units of the Local Police: seven members of the Community Proximity Team (ECOP) and two from the Preventive Action Group (GAP).As a result of this action, eight charges were brought for unauthorised occupation of the public thoroughfare in the port area, one for each offending establishment.Two other charges were also brought on 1 June, in this case in an area under municipal jurisdiction. The two establishments involved did not remove the items from their terraces after closure, leaving them piled up in front of the front of the premises.FinesDepending on the seriousness of the infringement, these offences can result in financial penalties ranging from 100 to 750 euros (minor infringements), from 750.01 to 1,500 euros (serious infringements) and from 1,500.01 to 3,000 euros (very serious infringements).

Port-city Socio-economic development

The APB approves the first fire ordinance for marinas and water sports facilities

26/05/2025

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) has approved the first ordinance on fire protection and self-protection in marinas and water sports facilities in the public domain of the APB. This is the first regulation of its kind in Spain, and establishes a pioneering regulatory framework to improve safety in these facilities.The regulations have been developed in conjunction with the fire prevention and extinguishing services of the Balearic Islands, including the fire brigades of Palma, Mallorca, Minorca and Formentera. Experience in emergencies in ports and marinas, both at the regional level and in other autonomous communities, has served as a basis for defining safety criteria, procedures and guidelines.The final text of the ordinance was drafted through a participatory process involving various organisations and groups in the sector. Of particular note are the contributions of the Association of Naval Engineers of the Balearic Islands, which collaborated for a year in drafting the regulations, as well as the Association of Marine and Sports Facilities (ANADE) and the Association of Sailing Clubs of the Balearic Islands, which submitted joint proposals incorporated into the final text.Risk factorsThe analysis of the problem highlighted various risk factors, such as the increase in the length of vessels and the incorporation of new interior installations such as galleys, air conditioning systems, electrical mechanisms and other equipment that increase the likelihood of fire. These factors, together with the need for permanent electrical connection and the complexity of maintenance in the marine environment, have resulted in a scenario of greater vulnerability.In addition, interventions of the emergency services in these incidents are particularly complex due to the geometry of marine facilities and installations. The difficulty in detecting and handling emergencies, coupled with the lack of suitable warning measures, delays the response and aggravates the consequences of fires.In view of this situation, the APB has promoted the drafting of this ordinance from a cross-cutting perspective, integrating the particularities of risk in these facilities and guaranteeing the safety of people and property. The regulations will also facilitate the intervention of both internal and external emergency services.This new regulations are set to become a landmark at the national level, setting a precedent for future regulations in the port area in terms of fire prevention and safety.

Transport and infrastructure Socio-economic development

The APB promotes the electrification of docks in the ports of Palma, Ibiza and Mahon with new medium voltage OPS systems

20/05/2025

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has contracted the installation of four new OPS(Onshore Power Supply) systems - also known ascold ironing -in the ports of Palma, Ibiza and Mahon fornearly ten million euros. These elements of infrastructure will allow ships to connect to the shore-side electricity grid during their stay in port, eliminating the need to keep their auxiliary engines running and thereby reducing polluting emissions and noise pollution in nearby urban areas.The president of the APB, Javier Sanz, already highlighted at the time "the determined push" being made by the port body in the electrification of the docks, which has a direct effect on the process of decarbonisation of port operations and, therefore, on "environmental sustainability", but also "on the well-being of the port's residents, who are going to notice a reduction in noise during ship layovers in the port".In the port of Palma, where the first low and medium voltage OPS point for ferries and fast-ferries is already in operation on the West quays, the installation of a second medium voltage system with a power of 1,600 kW has recently been awarded, located on the Commercial quays. This new infrastructure will allow the connection of ferries operating on a regular line, thus extending the coverage of the current system and reinforcing the process of decarbonisation of port operations.The company awarded the contract was Sampol for 2.4 million euros, which has already implemented the first OPS in the same port.New points in Ibiza and MahonIn the port of Ibiza, two medium-voltage OPS systems will also be installed, with a power output of 1,600 kW each, located on the Botafoc quays, allowing two ships to be connected simultaneously. This double connection will increase operational efficiency and substantially reduce atmospheric emissions and noise generated in the port environment, in line with the strategy of sustainability and improvement of port-city integration.The contract has also been awarded to Sampol, for a works budget of 4.69 million euros.Meanwhile, in the port of Mahon, a contract has been awarded for the execution of a medium voltage OPS system with a power output of 1,600 kW, which will be located on the Cós Nou quay, allowing the connection of ferries and other vessels. This new supply point is an important step towards a model of cleaner and quieter port operations, especially important for the residents around the port.The contract was awarded to the joint venture formed by FCC and COMSA for 2.84 million euros.European co-fundingThese actions are part of the APB's firm commitment to environmental sustainability and energy efficiency in its port facilities. The electrification of the docks of the five ports of general interest that it manages (Palma, Alcúdia, Ibiza, Mahon and La Savina) has a total planned investment of approximately 100 million euros until 2030, 40% of which is co-funded by the Next Generation EU funds.It is estimated that each of the projects can directly provide 15 jobs.

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

The APB establishes two different navigation channels in the port of La Savina to improve safety when entering and leaving the port

16/05/2025

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has established the separation of the navigation channel in La Savina with the aim of increasing the safety and fluidity of maritime traffic entering and leaving the port. This measure, supported by technical studies and real-time testing, aims to reduce the risk of incidents arising from the increasing traffic of ships and recreational craft.The Board of Management of the APB recently approved an ordinance which will regulate the procedure for entering and leaving the port, which will come into force as soon as it is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE). After that date, any breach may result in penalties.The new system establishes two navigation channels. A main channelsituated to the northfor all vessels and craft of 24 metres in length and over, or 6 metres in beam, or 2 metres in draught. The secondary channel, located to the south, is reserved for recreational, fishing and other vessels that do not meet the criteria of the main channel.The APB Chairman, Javier Sanz, stated that in this way the port body "reaffirms its commitment to maritime safety and the optimisation of maritime traffic in the port", stressing "that this separation will contribute to a more efficient and orderly navigation in the port of La Savina".Beacon signallingTo mark the channels, four yellow buoys numbered 1 to 4 have been deployed in the direction of the entrance to the port and a beacon with red flashes at the end of the jetty where the passenger vessels dock. These marks will serve to demarcate the channels.Both channels will be two-way and must be navigated in the right half in the forward direction. However, exceptions are provided for when the berthing destination requires it, thereby minimising the time to cross the opposite channel.Likewise, the maximum speed of vessels or boats during manoeuvres into and out of the port of La Savina will remain limited to 15 or 6 knots, depending on whether they are located to the north or south respectively of the port's outer breakwater.Restricted anchoringFurthermore, in order to guarantee safe navigation, it is forbidden to anchor ships, vessels or naval artifacts in both channels without the express authorisation of the APB, except in cases of force majeure or danger to human life at sea.The obligation to use the separate channels has come into force with the installation of the buoys. However, the system of penalties associated with this regulation will not be applied until the publication of the corresponding port ordinance in the BOE (Official State Gazette).

Transport and infrastructure