Noticias APB | Ports de Balears

Alcudia’s port: Mallorca’s second most important port of the island

23/08/2016

Alcudia’s port is Mallorca’s second most important one. It is located on northeast part of the island and since last 1992 is one of the integrated ports of Balearic Islands’ Port Authority (APB). There are two areas in the port: the smaller vessels’ dock, where fishing port is located and Alcudiamar sports marina, equipped with 800 moorings and commercial seaport where goods and passengers’ traffic is located. Alcudia is also the main connection between Mallorca and Menorca islands and also counts with a ship line connecting with Barcelona. There are 250.000 passengers a year embarking and disembarking there, and 200.000 of them are coming back from or going to Ciutadella. As a secure and effective answer to this huge amount of passengers’ traffic, APB has expanded Poniente dock and has built a modern and functional maritime station. Together with that, Alcudia port is linked to energetic resources transportation. Thermal power plant has been working for decades, substituted by electrical power plant of Es Murterar. Coal for the power plant is disembarked at Alcudia port coming from far away countries such as South Africa. Coal is 75% of total amount of goods’ traffic, reaching a million tones per year. 40.000 gas tones also reach Alcudia port and 35.000 scrap metal tones leave every year. Agro-alimentary products reaches 50.000 tones a year and 34.000 tones of the same goods leave from Alcudia. APB manages this port with the aim of adapting it to energetic model changes, thus respecting the natural environment all around. Join our Youtube video channel to see the full report.

Autonomy and economic auto-sufficiency of Balearic ports

19/08/2016

The Balearic Port Authority (APB) manages the five ports in the Balearic Islands considered to be of general interest: Palma, Alcudia, Mahon, Ibiza and Savina. The main management body is the Board of Directors where there are representatives of the institutions and business and economic entities with most representation in the Balearic society or they have links with the ports activity. The president, designated by the Government of the Balearic Islands, is Joan Gual de Torrella. He is the representative of APB and establishes the broad outlines of management. As Mr. Gual points out, the objective of the APB "is to offer a good service and that all the traffic of the ports, both merchant and touristic and the industrial activity, can be carried out as efficiently as possible". One of the characteristics of the ports of general interest is auto-sufficiency and economic and financial autonomy. For Mr. Gual it is "a successful model because budgets of the ports are generated within each port and the results are redistributed between those with activities which produce more and those which need help, such as freight, which in turn helps to reduce the costs of insularity". The APB implements the path to be taken for the most important projects to be executed in the ports. For example in Alcudia, Joan Gual de Torrella highlights the necessity of "extending the promenade to the port terminal in order to make the port area more comfortable and accessible for both locals and tourists". In the case of Mahon, the APB is preparing an action plan together with all the Minorcan society. In Palma, the cruise terminal will be finished. "We have to replace a roof that was provisional, assures Mr. Gual, with an adequate building, with little visual impact but that meets the quality standards needed in a port such as Palma". In order to execute these projects and preserve the environment of the ports, APB applies environmental management policies in which are involved both users and port companies. You can see the complete report in this video on the YouTube canal

The natural port of Maó, the second largest in the world

18/08/2016

The port of Maó, managed by the Balearic Port Authority (APB), is known, amongst other things, because it is the second largest natural port in the world. Also, it is the largest and most important in Minorca because both the touristic and industrial services and functions are combined in the same facilities. The port offers a welcome refuge for sailors. It is 6 km. from the estuary of the well known area of Colarsega and the east-west orientation offers protection from the strong Tramontana winds. At present, two Minorcan municipalities share the territory of the port, Maó and Castell. Both have a seafront promenade which runs along the port area where you can find the centre of the leisure activities such as bars, restaurants, shops and night-life. In the northern area there is the industrial activity of loading and unloading of passenger and merchant ships, the power plant and a Naval Base. This area also concentrates the major part of the traffic of passengers and merchandise. Around 120,000 passengers embark and disembark every year from Barcelona or with arrival in Palma or Valencia. With regard to merchandise, a very important part are energy products such as, diesel, petrol, gas, and fuel. Other products that are needed in Minorca are construction materials, agricultural/food products and such items as machinery, paper or wood. In the Poniente dock, the oldest part of the port, moor the cruise ships with around 80,000 visitors each year. The recreational activity and nautical sports are almost as intense in Maó as in Palma. The port has a great sailing tradition and it is an important area for competitions and the meeting of traditional boats. The statistics for the port of Mao clearly show the importance of conserving this precious heritage and exceptional landscape while at the same time developing the port functions, basic for the island of Minorca. You can see the complete report in this video on YouTube

Professional fishing in the ports of the Balearic Islands

18/08/2016

In all the ports there are dedicated areas for professional fishing. At present, in the ports that are managed by the Balearic Port Authority (APB) there are 16,500 square metres dedicated to fish auctions, the drying of fishing nets, storage and buildings of the Fishermen's Association and other services. The relationship of the APB with the Fishermen's Association is very close and they are usually represented at the Ports and Navigation Council. According to data of 2014 from the Federation of Fishermen's Associations of the Balearic Islands, the ports have 171 commercial fishing vessels: 43 in Alcudia, 39 in Ibiza, 37 in Palma, 32 in Mahon and 20 in Savina. A very important part (129) are dedicated to small scale fishing technics and 19 to trawling (6 of these are in Palma). The rest of the vessels are dedicated to other minority modalities. With respect to fish catches, the vessels of the five ports exceed 3,175 tons. The majority are fish with over 2,500 tons of which 350 are molluscs and 240 crustaceans. The fish production figures show, however, that this activity has reduced its contribution to the Balearic economy. According to data from the Directorate General of Marine Affairs, fish production represents around 20 million euros, although between 2013 and 2014 the total quantity was reduced by 5.8%. The future for the fishing industry will involve changes because the local Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries has presented a new "fishing tourism" decree with measures to diversify the industry. This opens new business possibilities for fishermen with prospects of improving income. You can see the complete report in this video on YouTube.

The ship repairing and maintenance companies are at the head of the Balearic sector

16/08/2016

One of the most promising economic activities in the Balearic Islands is the repairing and maintenance of ships. The Balearic Islands' Port Authority dedicates 140.000 square metres of surface to this activity, which generates more than 450 million euros every year. There are more than 450 companies and 2.300 professionals of this sector operating at the ports managed by the Balearic Island's Port Authority, including indirect jobs. The greatest activity related to the repairing and maintenance of ships is concentrated in Palma's Port, considered a reference for the sector and competing with Barcelona and the main ports of France and Italy. Astilleros de Mallorca and STP (Port Technical Services) are some of the repairing companies that have their headquarters at the capital's port, but there are also small companies and freelancers working at the five ports managed by the APB. At these ports, all type of maintenance, repairing and even restoring works are carried out, including all those related to the engines, electrical and electronic works. The group of companies based at the Balearic ports provide their services to approximately 2.000 ships of all types every year, including 120 considered "super yachts" (large ships). There are many ships coming from other ports which make a technical call at Palma's port. That is why the sector creates stable jobs throughout the year. For the prevention of pollution from this activity, the APB ensures the correct management of all residues generated by the activity of licensees offering repairing and maintenance services. In addition, this institution applies measures for the prevention of pollution: the work areas have a drainage network, decantation tanks, oily water collection or antipollution fences. The full article is available online on this video on Youtube.

The APB opens a tender process for the improvement works of Llebeig lighthouse

16/08/2016

The Balearic Islands' Port Authority (APB) has published the tender offer for the works that include the adaptation of the roof, lantern and annex storehouse of Llebeig lighthouse, in Dragonera island. The aim of the contract is the complete refurbishment of the annex storehouse, the restoration of the roof, facade painting and repair, repair works in the building, substitution of the lantern, treatment of the wood and ironwork, general cleaning and removal of the unusable material. The initial bidding budget is of 510.469,73. The procedure for the submission of offers is already open, and those companies interested can submit their offer until the 15th of September 2016 at 2:00 pm. The tender is available on the APB's e-office, on this link.

The ports of general interest of the Balearic Islands

16/08/2016

Palma, Alcudia, Ibiza, Mahon and La Savina are the ports of general interest managed by the Balearic Islands' Port Authority (APB).They are the five doorways that connect our island to the world and provide us with everything we need, from food, clothing or vehicles to materials for building houses, hospitals or schools. All the ports have the same mission but different characteristics. Palma's Port is the largest one and the with the highest traffic of both passengers and goods Alcudia's Port is essential for the communications between Majorca and Minorca, hence it has an important commercial and passenger activity and it has an important fishing dock Mahon's port is the second largest natural port of Europe and it receives especially cargo vessels, energy transportation ships and small and exclusive cruise ships Ibiza's Port is the connection with Formentera, and it receives almost all the provisions of the island and finally Savina's Port is the smallest and the most characteristic of all. The function of the Balearic Islands' Port Authority is to manage the facilities and port services and to ensure the goods and passengers traffic flow and comfort, as well as to invest in the environment in order to protect the marine ecosystem and manage the residues. The full article is available online on this video on Youtube.

Great activity at Palma's Port

12/08/2016

Palma's Port is the largest port managed by Ports of the Balearic Islands, so it concentrates much more services and activities than the rest of docks. The capital's port is especially known for its great sport nautical activity and for being the main destination for cruise ships. In addition, it is highly important for the residents of the island, as it is the port that provides them with most of the products needed in Majorca. The activity at Palma's Port is intense and regular: 24 hours a day 365 days a year. According to registered numbers, the port receives approximately 2.300.000 passengers every year including regular shipping lines and cruise ships, 170.000 passenger vehicles and 130.000 vehicles as goods, 3.000 merchant ships of 35 nationalities, 1 million tons of oil-bearing products, 200.000 tons of cement and 6.500.000 of diverse goods. Thus, port services are essential for managing all this activity from the different facilities for loading and unloading goods and the passengers flow from regular shipping lines and cruise ships, to, in the areas of the port, the public institutions that can be found here, like the territorial delegation of the National Agency of Meteorology, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres, the Customs administration, military government, National Police, Health Service and the offices of the Balearic Islands' Port Authority, among others. Other private institutions operate at the port, like those providing loading and unloading, tow and residue management services and other companies offering repairing, maintenance and diverse services offered at the port's facilities. The full article is available online on this video on Youtube.

La Savina, an essential port for the Balearic Islands

11/08/2016

La Savina's Port, in Formentera, is characterised for being the smallest port of those managed by the Balearic Islands' Port Authority. According to registered numbers, the traffic of passengers and ships is higher than in other larger ports. Every year, La Savina receives 1.700.000 passengers, most of whom travel in regular shipping lines only 800 of them travel on cruise ships. Thus, it is the Balearic port which registers the second highest traffic of passengers in regular shipping lines —Ibiza is the first one. Regarding the traffic of goods, it is an important port for residents and visitors of the island. La Savina's Port is the doorway of almost all the goods consumed in Formentera, so it is essential for maintaining the economic activity of the island and fulfilling its needs. A total of 200.000 tons of goods are unloaded at the port every year. The full article is available online on this video on Youtube.

Ocibar will keep managing the moorings of Poniente dock in Ibiza

09/08/2016

The Balearic Islands' Port Authority (APB) has chosen the firm Ocibar, S.A. as the most favourable solution for the management of the moorings of Poniente dock at Ibiza's Port. Hence Ocibar S.A. will hold the license for two more years, with the possibility of extending the period for one more year. The granting was approved by the Board of Directors of the APB on the 29th of June and published today in the Spanish Official State Gazette (BOE). The next step is to make the procedure prior to the definitive awarding of the license. Six offers were presented at this public tender, of which the one presented by OCIBAR S.A. was considered the most favourable solution by the APB. This offer complies with the requirement of keeping the current number of moorings (73) shorter than 15 metres, which are currently distributed in two floating pontoons, and at affordable prices for social sailing. OCIBAR S.A. will manage a total of 20.099 square metres of water surface at Ibiza's Port. The budget for the execution of the contract is of 1.157.383,26€ (VAT included), while the annual tax amounts to 1.877.607,75€.

The APB publishes the 2015 activity report

09/08/2016

The Balearic Islands' Port Authority has published the 2015 Annual Report and the Sustainability Report, which make an overview of the activity of the institution in the last year. These reports are also available online, on the APB's website, as part of the commitment to transparency of the institution regarding its management. These two documents reflect the financial situation, the technical features of the five ports of general interest (Palma, Alcudia, Mahon, Ibiza and La Savina) managed by the APB, the works or activities authorised to private individuals, the traffic statistics, the works on process or finished and the summary of investments, data of port use, regular shipping lines and port companies and services, as well as details of the APB's value creation towards its stakeholders. The APB is affiliated with the Ministry of Development, but it is closely tied to the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands. The Maritime Authority, the Central State Administration, State Ports and the main institutions of the islands, like the Government of the Balearic Islands, Island Councils and Palma City Council, as well as the Chambers of Commerce of the Balearic Islands, the business confederation CAEB, the Provincial Association of Enterprises of Balearic Maritime Activities (APEAM) and the trade unions (UGT) are represented in the APB's Board of Directors.

New record of cruise passengers at Palma's Port

04/08/2016

Palma's Port has set a new record of cruise passengers, putting the number at 25.116 passengers in a day aboard seven cruise ships. Actually, there were eight cruise ships berthed at Palma's Port today: Navigator of the Seas, AIDABlu, Thomson Majesty, Thomson Spirit, Costa Fascinosa, Costa Diadema, MSC Fantasia and MSC Armonia. However, the latter has set sail in the early morning, so the passengers aboard are not included in the total of passengers who have passed through Palma's Port today. Palma is the base port of the cruise ships AIDABlu, Thomson Majesty and Thomson Spirit, which means that there have been both passenger embarkations and disembarkations.