Index | Ports de Balears

News

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Lighthouses of the Balearic Islands

Ships in Port

CSR and tranparency

Air quality

Port Innovation Platform

Location

Economic and social impact

Visit our lighthouses

Weather forecast

Navigation aids

Lighthouses of the Balearic Islands

Ships in Port

CSR and tranparency

Air quality

Port Innovation Platform

Location

Economic and social impact

Visit our lighthouses

Weather forecast

Navigation aids

Interesting links

Annual Report

This publication details the APB’s financial situation, the technical characteristics of its public ports and provides an overview of the institution’s activities.

Notice Boards

Link to the APB’s e-office which features the official notice boards on public information, human resources, public port land, and auctions, as well as other notices.

Sustainability Reports

This report sets out the actions carried out to create value for the APB’s stakeholders, in compliance with its commitment to transparent management.

Costumer Service

The APB has a communication channel for users to request information, make suggestions, and lodge complaints about its ports and lighthouses.

Statistics

These provide a detailed picture about the traffic using the public ports of Palma, Alcudia, Mahon, Ibiza and La Savina.

Financial Statements

Comprehensive information, including the audit report, of the most recent financial statements passed by the APB's Board of Directors, and given a favourable report by the Spanish National Audit Office.

Contact form

To make a complaint or a suggestion, or request information, follow this link

Access

About us

You have entered the Website of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands. This is a virtual space that puts you within reach of all the services provided by the ports of general interest, which are: Alcudia, Ibiza, Mahon, Palma and La Savina...