News APB | Ports de Balears

The Port of Palma prepares for the christening of AIDAluna

01/04/2009

The president of the Port Authority of theBalearic Islands (PAB), Francesc Triay, gave a press conference to cover the events that have been organized by the cruise company AIDA Cruises for the christening ceremony of the cruise ship AIDAluna, to be held next weekend in the Port of Palma. On Saturday, April 4, at nine in the evening, the chief authorities of the islands will be received on board by the heads of AIDA Cruises and Carnival Corporation before the commencement of the ceremony. The patroness of AIDAluna, German top model Franziska Knupp, will perform the christening of the ship. After this, fireworks will be launched from the port which will be visible from the entire seafront promenade of Palma. The following day, the PAB will present the traditional plaque to the commander of AIDAluna. Triay stressed that this event highlights the importance of the Port of Palma as a destination for cruise ships in the Mediterranean and promotes the Balearic Islands in the cruise tourism sector in Europe. Also appearing before the press were, the Minister of Tourism of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Miquel Nadal, the Councilor for Economy and Tourism of the Consell of Majorca, Maria Isabel Oliver, and the Deputy of Tourism, Juana Maria Borrás

The PAB awarded at Seatrade Cruise Shipping Miami

23/03/2009

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (PAB) has returned from Seatrade Cruise Shipping Miami, the world's largest international trade fair for cruise ships, with an award from the Dream World Cruise Destination Magazine which recognizes the Port of Palma for being the best port operations base for cruise ships. A delegation, headed by the chairman of the PAB, Francesc Triay, participated in the annual meeting of the international cruise ship tourism industry, by representing the Balearic Islands in the promotional programme that Ports of the State organizes every year in this U.S. city. The Balearic delegation perceived an attitude of confidence on the part of the world’s major cruise companies, which have demonstrated that they are capable of continuing to grow at a healthy pace and are competent in the face of the economic crisis. The chairman of the PAB was accompanied in Miami by the director, Matthew Angel, the sales manager, Matthew Ginard and the chief of the ports of Ibiza and La Savina, Joaquín Jiménez. Also forming part of the delegation in Miami were the president of the Provincial Business Association of Maritime Activities in the Balearic Islands (Apeam), Miquel Puigserver, the president of the Business Association of Travel Agencies in the Balearic Islands, Pedro Iriondo and the major shipping agents for cruise ships on the islands.

Bidding starts for dock work at Botafoc

12/03/2009

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (PAB) has initiated the proceedings for tenders for the construction of the esplanade and commercial docks in the shelter of the Botafoc dock in the port of Ibiza, with a budget of approximately ninety four million euros and a maximum period of execution of thirty months. This afternoon the open tender was announced by the BOE, which sets the foundations which must be met by the contestants. Yesterday, Wednesday, the information was sent to the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). The deadline for submission of tenders is 18 May 2009 and May 27 will mark opening of the submitted bids. Project is reducedFollowing the agreement reached between the Government of the Balearic Islands, the Consell and the City Council of Ibiza, the PAB will initiate the expansion and reform of the port with the beginning of the work on the docks of Botafoc. As reported by the chairman of the PAB, Francesc Triay, at a press conference held on February 3rd in Ibiza, the initial draft of 85.000m ² has been reduced by 10.000m ². This makes a total of 63.000m ² of constructed esplanade and two wharves of 6.000m ², resulting in an overall gain of 75.000m ² of newly won sea surface. Similarly, the chairman of the PAB outlined other key agreements making possible an institutional pact, for example, that half of the filling material used in the construction of the esplanade will come from outside the island the rejection of the construction of the tunnel access under Plana Island the unfounded affect on the natural space of Ses Feixes de Talamanca and the introduction of strict environmental and archaeological controls, in accordance with the Environmental Impact Statement issued by the Ministry of Environment, Rural and Marine. If the anticipated schedule is met, the work will be awarded in the month of August, and in October, labour will begin.

Three million euros in construction work in the port of Palma

25/02/2009

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (PAB) has recently taken on a number of building projects in the port of Palma, for a total of three million euros. This includes the construction of a Duque de Alba on the platform of the western dock (Dique del Oeste) for docking of ships exceeding 130 meters in length. The increasing size of vessels arriving at the port of Palma has prompted the need for the installation of this fixed point mooring, 65 meters from the pier. This mooring can berth vessels of up to 200 meters, on the western alignment of the platform attached to the Dique del Oeste. The installation of the Duque de Alba has been given a budget of more than 795,000 euros.Besides this, seven other projects have been accepted, including a new tent for passenger services on the western (Poniente) docks improvement of the air conditioning installations of Passenger Terminal 2 and a new roof on Passenger Termainal 3, on the Paraires piers the paving of the road of Dique del Oeste and the upgrading of the Can Barbara bridge, as well as, the qualification of logistics lodgings and the improvement of the pavement and illumination of the interior road of the naval base of Portopí.

Agreement to begin the expansion and reform of the Port of Ibiza

03/02/2009

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (PAB) has reached an agreement with the Govern de les Illes Balears, the Council and the Town Council of Ibiza to start the expansion and reform of the port of Ibiza, with the initiation of construction work on the docks of Botafoc. The president of the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands, Francesc Antich, the president of the Council of Ibiza, Xicu Tarrés, Mayor, Lurdes Costa and the chairman of the PAB, Francesc Triay, announced today during an appearance at City Hall Ibiza, the consensus reached after a reduction of 10,000 meters in the area initially proposed for the project of esplanade and commercial docks within the shelter of Botafoc.The chairman of the PAB also exposed other key agreements included in the pact, like the fact that half of the filling material to be used in the construction of the esplanade will come from outside the island. Triay also recalled other aspects previously agreed to with priority, like the rejection of the construction of an access tunnel under the Isla Plana, the null affect on the natural space of Ses Feixes of Talamanca and the introduction of strict environmental and archaeological site controls. .The work will require an initial financial injection of 81 million euros. The process has already commenced with the transmission of the draft to the State Ports. Subsequently its tender will be issued in the Official Gazette and in the OJEU, and it is estimated that in the month of August it could be awarded. If this deadline is met, construction could start in October. Integral Reformation The construction of Botafoc docks is the first phase of a series of actions that will reform the entire current structure of the port. The next step will be to build the new passenger terminals in Botafoc and Formentera, and reshape the promenade, with a total planned investment of over126 million.

The number of cruise passengers increase by 8% in 2008

30/01/2009

In 2008 The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (PAB) experienced an 8% growth in the number of cruise passengers from 2007. There was also an increase of 1% in the number of stopovers. However, freight traffic declined by 8% and regular passenger traffic by 10%. In total, 1,315,933 cruise passengers made landfall over the past year at the ports of the PAB: 1,131,147 in the port of Palma (8% increase), 103,574 in the port of Mahon (+14%) and 79,210 in the port of Ibiza (-1%). Regarding the number of cruise ships, the port of Palma recorded a total of 496 stopovers throughout 2008, a 5% increase from 2007. By contrast, the port of Ibiza decreased by 11% the number of stopovers and Mahon by 2% from the previous year.Less cargo2008 was characterized by a general decline in cargo traffic in the ports of the PAB, with the exception of the Port of Alcudia which secured an increase of 3% over 2007, with a total movement of 1,872,212 tons. Thus, from January to December 2008, 13,224,725 tons of cargo moved through all ports of the PAB, 8% less than in 2007. The port of Palma lost 9%, representing nearly eight hundred thousand tons less than the previous year (8,196,284 tons), Mahon 10% (1,175,720 tons), La Savina 11% (198,229 ) and finally the port of Ibiza15% (1,782,280 tons). With regard to regular passenger traffic, 4,101,598 passengers passed through the ports of the PAB, 10% less than in 2007. The port of Palma had the steepest decline. It recorded a total of 859,435 passengers, signifying a fall of 18%, followed by the port of Ibiza, with a drop of 11% (1,773,192), Alcudia 8% (148,395) and La Savina with a 4% reduction (1,138,988). By contrast, the port of Mahon recorded the only positive numbers presented in this sector with an increase of 4%, representing 181,588 passengers.

Port Police have new uniforms

19/01/2009

Today at the Port of Palma, the PAB presented new uniforms to the Port Authority Police, the same day that they entered in force in the five ports that it manages: Palma, Alcudia, Ibiza, Mahon and La Savina. The chairman of the PAB, Francesc Triay, was the person in charge presenting the new uniforms to the press, in a ceremony held this morning at the headquarters of the PAB in the port of Palma. He was accompanied by the director of the Port Association, Angel Matias, the chief of the Division of Services and Police, Jose Maria Felipe and the head of the Human Resources Division, Joan Ginard. The move to change the uniforms of the officers of the Port Police was motivated by the wish to modernize the image of the PAB, as well as to fulfil the request of the Ports of the State to differentiate the figure of the Port Police from the rest of security forces operating in the area of port domain. Members of the Port Police will also, as of today, carry a new individual credential that verifies them as Agents of the Port Administration. Altogether, in the ports of the PAB, there are approximately 140 agents, a number that increases to about 180 in high season with the addition of temporary employees. The presence of female officers is about 13 per cent. The Port of Palma has 79 agents of the PAB, Ibiza 27, Mahon 21, Alcudia 6 and Savina 9

The APB plans to invest over 45 million euros in 2009

18/12/2008

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (PAB) approved today, at its last meeting of the year, the Business Plan for 2009. The plan envisages an investment of more than forty-five million euros in five major ports managed by the PAB in the Balearic archipelago. Among the items detailed in the meeting was the 4.8 million euros destined for the construction of the new maritime station at the Port of Alcudia, which is expected to become operational next summer.The Port of Palma has a budget of 18.1 million euros for work to be carried out in 2009. This includes the expansion of the Poniente Docks for ships of great length, with a budget of twelve million euros, accompanied by an allocation of 1.1 million euros for dredging in the area. Over three million euros will be invested in the division of expropriation and land acquisition of the Port of Mahon with an endowment of one million euros for the dredging of the area near the Naval Station and Cos Nou. Meanwhile, in the Port of Ibiza, an initial investment of 3.7 billion euros is anticipated for the construction of the esplanade and commercial piers sheltered by the Botafoc dock.As for general investment, an allocation of eight million euros has been approved for the installation of public information systems, Wi-Fi networks and video-conference rooms in all ports of the APB.

The port of Palma has a new Travel Lift of up to 700 T

16/10/2008

As of this week, the port of Palma has a new travel lift for boats of up to 700 tonnes and 60 meters in length, which consolidates the port as a strategic point in the Mediterranean in the sector of superyacht repairs. The travel lift is located in the dry dock area of the Commercial Dock (Muelle Comercial) in the port of Palma. It is managed by the company STP and has been installed by the Italian firm Ascom.The port of Palma has more than 105,000 square meters allocated to the maintenance and repair of boats of up to 90 meters in length. Close to nine hundred companies of the sector are working in its facilities, which include painters, carpenters, decorators, electricians, as well as suppliers of nautical products

Seven cruise ships coincide in Palma for the first time

10/10/2008

The Port of Palma has registered for the first time the simultaneous stopovers of seven cruise ships, which coincided for several hours today in the bay of the capital of Majorca. These were the ships Wind Surf, Aidacara, Aidadiva, Thomson Spirit, Insignia, Grand Celebration and Oriana, which carried on board a total of more than eight thousand five hundred passengers. In fact, the Port of Palma had already registered the presence of seven tourist cruises on the same day, but never all at the same time. On this occasion, from eight o'clock in the morning until one in the afternoon on Friday, all seven ships remained moored at the pier.

Trapsayates to operate berths of Levante Dock, Maó

02/10/2008

The Board of Directors of the PABhas decided to elect the company Trapsayates S.L. as the most advantageous choice to for the tender to manage the moorings of the piers of Levante in the Port of Maó, according to the proposal of the Technical Committee responsible for reporting on the bids submitted to the competition. The proposal of Trapsayates S.L. offers an annual fee of 600,000 euros, an investment for the improvement and expansion of facilities of 2.8 million and a concession period of 14 years and ten months. The chairman of the PAB, Francesc Triay, proposed to the Board of Directors in regular session meeting this morning, to award the tender to the company, in accordance with the proposal of the Technical Commission.For the evaluation of bids, the Technical Commission implemented the specification bases adopted on September 30, 2003 by the Board of Directors of the PAB, which assess and weigh the following factors: the annual fee, the project plan, spending on promotion of nautical sports, a thorough economic survey, the proposed rates, the contract period, the organization of facilities and services and the status of the bidder with regard to promoting nautical sports. In the competition the bids of the businesses Ocibar SL, Ribera del Puerto SL and Maritime Club of Mahon were also considered. The latter bidder had filed an appeal to PAB seeking that the contest be declared void. However, the Board of Directors of the PAB rejected that appeal on the basis of three legal reports which upheld the validity of the contest. These reports were prepared by the Secretariat of the PAB, the State Bar and a third external source.

The Port of Palma meets European safety standards

29/09/2008

The first week of September a group of members of the European Commission visited the Port of Palma to evaluate the degree of implementation of the EU legislation on safety for the transport of people and goods in ports (EEC 65/2004) and also of Royal Decree 1617/2007. This norm appears in Chapter XI of the international agreement SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). After four days of analysis of security plans, installations and operations in the Port of Palma, the experts reported that the European standards were being followed correctly and that no significant improvements were required.