The APB and the Government work together to promote the ports
02/06/2016
The Balearic Islands' Port Authority (APB) and the Government of the Balearic Islands have announced today the collaboration agreement between both entities for the unification of the standards of administrative management of the ports of the archipelago. This agreement aims at improving and strengthening the services offered and at benefitting the commercial sector of the community.
The president of the APB, Joan Gual de Torrella, and the Minister of Land, Energy and Transport of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Marc Pons, have stated that, on the basis of respect for the autonomy of both institutions, the "wisest thing to do" is to increase coordination between them to offer a better service to both residents and tourists.
According to the APB, we are talking about an only user who does not distinguish two administrations offering the same service. "One of the consequences of this agreement is having a single criterion for a single user", notwithstanding that it is applied by two different institutions.
As Marc Pons has stated, it is a way forward together "for the improvement of the services offered by the different ports to those who visit us". According to the minister, "setting the same quality criteria and deciding to make an international coordinated promotion will unite us and will strengthen the nautical sector, and consequently, the economy of the Balearic Islands".
Specific agreements
Among the first agreements there is a compromise to coordinate the international promotion of the ports as a tourist destination, by creating a homogeneous offer of high-quality nautical services in the different port facilities of the islands. There is also a plan to simplify the administrative procedures for obtaining a mooring.
At a local level, the institutions have agreed to define the commercial role of Ibiza with Sant Antoni de Portmany, in the island of Ibiza, and that of Mahon with Ciutadella, in Minorca, complementing them despite being managed by different administrations.
There is also the intention, in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Labour, to promote professional training in order to strengthen the sectors in need of qualified local professionals. And finally, to study Algeria's demand to create a maritime line between Barcelona, Palma and Algiers.
The APB is a public institution, clustered around State Ports and belonging to the Ministry of Development, which manages the ports of general interest of Palma, Alcudia, Mahon, Ibiza and La Savina. On the other hand, the Government of the Balearic Islands, through the public institution Ports IB, is responsible for the executive competences and functions of the ports managed by the autonomous community.
