Noticias APB | Ports de Balears

An amphibious aeroplane landing exercise undertaken at the Port of Palma

04/07/2018

This morning, a landing operation of amphibious aeroplanes, used to fight forest fires, was launched as part of an exercise at the Port of Palma. It was part of an activity for using water at the Port of Palma in landing operations, which are only launched on exceptional occasions, such as when the planes cannot collect water from any other coastline of Mallorca. The landing activity at the Port of Palma entails precautionary measures so that when the water collection operations of the amphibious planes are launched, the safety of ships, users of sport vessel facilities and sailing clubs at the Port of Palma, as well as of the Fishermen's Guild, can be guaranteed. This morning's exercise was carried out under real conditions with the Canadair CL-415 plane of the Ministry of the Environment (MAPAMA). The plane is based at Pollença and has a maximum capacity of 5500 litres of water. Other participants in the exercise included the relevant parties from the General State Administration (AGE) and from the government of the Balearic Islands, including the Directorate-general of Emergencies and Internal Affairs-SEIB112, the Balearic Island Nature Institute (IBANAT) and the Civil Guard, along with those who practice at the Port of Palma, including the Real Club Náutico de Palma, Club de Mar, Spanish Maritime Safety Agency, Maritime Authority and the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB). These exercises highlight how important the collaboration is of all the parties involved –not just public authorities, but also private companies and vessel users– in landing operations, so as to ensure that forest fires are put out as soon as possible.

The APB puts out to tender the beautification plan for la Savina Port

18/06/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has put out to tender the works contract of the beautification plan for la Savina Port, which aims to install infrastructures that are better tailored to meet the port's current needs and more comfortable for its users. Specifically, work will be carried out to redevelop the sea front of the Formentera port in order to optimise the surroundings for the benefit of locals and visitors. This improvement project, which is currently in an open tender process and is expected to get under way after the peak tourist season, will focus on conditioning the roads and pedestrian areas around the port after completing the first phase of improving and adapting the car park area located at the north side of la Savina Port. The investment budgeted by the APB for the project covering the "Conditioning of roads and pedestrian areas" at la Savina Port is €6,769,988.46 and works are expected to last 10 months. The deadline to submit tenders is 23 July 2018. Those interested can submit their bids via the APB's Port for Electronic Tender. Complete renovation The completion of works at the new la Savina Maritime Station in 2006 and all these years of use highlighted that the gradual increase of users has called for action to optimise the flow of passengers and vehicles that access this station on a daily basis. In order to meet these needs, plans have been drawn up, firstly, to condition the car park area located at the north side of la Savina Port, creating two car park strips (cars and trucks) at the same level and rearranging internal traffic inside the car park. Secondly, and in order to enhance pedestrian areas, homogenise the whole area and provide Formentera's residents with an area at the port where they can enjoy spending time, the beautification plan includes the conditioning of roads and pedestrian access areas.

THE DEUP PROPOSAL OF THE PORT OF ALCUDIA IS RELEASED

13/06/2018

The consultation period in which to submit arguments and observations regarding the Delimitation of Port Spaces and Uses (DEUP) proposal of the Port of Alcudia, approved last May by the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), is now open. Interested parties can access the documentation on the website www.portsdebalears.com, at the offices of the APB in Palma (Moll Vell, 3- 5) and at the Port of Alcudia (Moll de Pescadors s/n), Monday to Friday from 9 am to 2 pm. They may also submit however many arguments and observations deemed appropriate within the period of 45 business days, starting from the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette on 12 June 2018. The Delimitation of Port Spaces and Uses proposals are instruments provided for under Article 69 of the Consolidated Text of Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy that aim to arrange port space according to the corresponding need. The Port of Alcudia generates annual traffic amounting to over 2 million tonnes of goods and approximately 400,000 cruise ship passengers pass through its modern terminal. The combination of mooring places for sports vessels, the need for the supply of goods for consumption on the island and the transportation to and from Menorca and some ports on the peninsula, make the port stand out. It has two very different areas: the commercial dock and the small-vessel dock, which is comprised by the fishing wharf and a sports port. Despite that, the port sees a lot of activity relating to the energy sector. At its facilities, coal, used to generate electricity, butane and propane are unloaded.

The APB is to construct a new walkway at the Port of Mahon that will connect Cala Corb and Moll d’en Pons

11/06/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has put the construction of a walkway at the Port of Mahon out to tender. The new infrastructure will connect Cala Corb and Moll d’en Pons, saving the cliff that currently impedes crossing from one side to the other along the coast. The project envisages the construction of a 2.5 m wide and 400 m long pontoon that will connect the two docks, located in the municipality of es Castell, at 1.2 m above sea level, which will be used for the mooring of small length sports vessels. Furthermore, it will also serve as a pedestrian path on which to go from one area to the other and it will be fitted out with wooden street furniture and a lighting system. The estimated construction deadline is eight months. The tender budget is €2,490,822.75 and the tender submission period ends on 17 July 2018.

The Maritime Signalling Exhibition at the Portopí Lighthouse extends its weekend opening hours

07/06/2018

The Porto Pí is one of the most charming and symbolic lighthouses in the Balearic Islands. Furthermore, inside the lighthouse, located at the Port of Palma, the most incredible treasure relating to maritime signalling and our history is safeguarded. The permanent Maritime Signalling Exhibition at the Porto Pí Lighthouse reopens its doors with new opening hours that include Saturdays so that Balearic Island residents and visitors can discover all the secrets amassed behind its priceless walls. After its temporary closure to undertake maintenance and air conditioning tasks, visitors can once again visit the permanent Porto Pí Lighthouse exhibition free of charge –with prior booking– from 10 am to 2 pm Monday to Saturday. Visits will take place in groups comprising a maximum of 20 people. Furthermore, individual visits may now be made without having to be part of a group. The visitor organisation will now be in charge of organising visitors. Associations, educational centres and other institutions will continue to function as they have done to date, that is, booking their visit in advance through the websites: www.portsdebalears.com or www.farsdebalears.com One of the first in the world to come into operation The Port Pí Lighthouse was the second lighthouse in Spain to come into operation and the third in the world. According to the information compiled through maritime signalling research, it was first mentioned in the will of King James II in 1300. In the will, the king entrusted the care of the lighthouse to his heirs. In any event, this central building, located at the end of Palma's seafront promenade, is a symbol of not only the city, but also the maritime communications of the Balearic Islands. A turning point in the history of the lighthouses and their keepers came in the 1980s, when technology intervened in the dynamics of this type of maritime signalling, changing their use and functioning. At that time, Rafael Soler Gayà was the director of the Port of Palma. He caringly and wisely took the initiative –with other lighthouse keepers– to rescue and preserve all the pieces that had been taken out of the coastal lighting service due to being obsolete: lens, rigging, photographs, records, maps, etc. That is how the Porto Pí Exhibition came about, which the APB decided to open up to and share with the public in 2004. Since then, many groups and schools have enjoyed experiencing this cultural treasure, the history of maritime signalling, our own past and the peculiar lives of lighthouse keepers. A complete and valuable collection The APB has received national and international acknowledgement for its meticulous care of the lighthouses, the work put into recovering the history of lighthouses and their legacy, and for having one of the most complete collections of materials used in maritime signalling since the mid-nineteenth century. This valuable collection is once again open to the residents of Mallorca and to the visitors who want to immerse themselves in the passionate and enigmatic world of lighthouses. Further information and bookings: www.portsdebalears.com www.farsdebalears.com

First contract agreed successfully through the APB's new electronic procurement system

07/06/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has successfully completed the first electronic agreement through its procurement board. The port authority has put into operation the New Portal for Electronic Tender of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands. It will use this portal to process all its contractual proceedings, in accordance with the Law 9/2017, of 8 November, on Public Sector Contracts. As of now, all the APB's contractual proceedings will be processed electronically from start to finish. For this, a tender module has been implemented which allows interaction with companies during the bidding process and has a contractual proceedings agent who internally looks after the entire cycle of these proceedings from start to finish. This cycle begins with the request for tender to the return of the guarantees, as well as any developments which arise in between. This new platform systematically integrates with all the services offered by the PLACSP (Platform for Public Sector Contracts). It also integrates with the rest of the applications used by the APB (Economic-Financial System, Content Manager, Electronic Signature Components, Signatures Folder, Electronic Communication and Notifications, Entry/Exit Records, Electronic Archives, etc.). The first electronic agreement of the procurement board was to hire ‘Technical assistance for works management, quality control, and environmental surveillance in varied and minor works of the APB’, with a tender budget of € 297,000. The following people participated in this opening: the head of the Management Area, Fernando Berenguer the head of Procurement and Management Control, Carlos Sánchez the head of Contractual Proceedings, Olga Peñalver the head of the Financial Department, Gabriel Cruelles and the State Lawyer, Ana Marín.

The project for new underground parking at the Port of Ibiza has been submitted

05/06/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has submitted the project for new underground parking at the Port of Ibiza. The new infrastructure will offer 700 parking spaces and will require an investment of 27 million euros. The parking facility, which will be located at the north bank of the Port of Ibiza to provide service to the port area, is part of the set of works that the APB and the Island Council of Ibiza agreed on at the beginning of the parliamentary term for the beautification of the Port of Ibiza. In order to make a decision on the future parking area, the APB studied three alternatives and finally settled on a single-storey model, covering a surface area of 18,272.55 m2, where there will be 691 parking spaces, 21 of which will be allocated to people with reduced mobility. The investment is estimated to reach €27,038,838.26, although this figure will be determined by the final design and the terms and conditions of the concession that will be granted by the APB for the works and future operation of this parking facility. The APB is currently processing a Delimitation of Port Spaces and Uses (DEUP) proposal that requires the approval of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport so that the locations of the new pending infrastructures are listed, including the new harbour station for traffic between Ibiza and Formentera, the new Fishermen's Guild Building, the future boat repair yard and this parking facility. Upon sealing the approval of this DEUP, the processing and bidding can get underway for each one of the works. Both the mayor and president of the APB have highlighted how important this parking area is in guaranteeing a necessary service at the Port of Ibiza, allowing not only local residents on the port's front line –whom will be allocated prime parking spaces– but also all other residents on the Pityusic Islands or tourists to park their car and take advantage of the other facilities on foot.

The APB restores the Llebeig Lighthouse on Sa Dragonera

04/06/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has started the restoration work on the roof and the interior of the Llebeig Lighthouse on the island of Sa Dragonera, Mallorca. Replacement of the lighthouse’s lantern, which is currently in a bad condition, is also part of the work to undertake. The works were awarded to the company Obras y Pavimentos MAN for 387,300 euros (without VAT) and they are expected to last around six months. Furthermore, minor work on the Tramuntana Lighthouse, located in the north of the island, will also be undertaken. It will be carried out in accordance with the Natural Park and its requirements. The work entails restoring furniture that is to be used in a museum that will give an insight into the home of a lighthouse keeper. The lighthouse's lantern will be restored to improve its current appearance. This restoration project will give employment to around 12 people.

The APB launches an ideas competition for the redevelopment of the Contramuelle-Mollet area at the Port of Palma

01/06/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) approved yesterday the launch of an ideas competition for the redevelopment of the Contramuelle-Mollet area at the Port of Palma. The aim of this competition is to select preliminary draft proposal for the redesign of the port area, following the dynamic initiative already underway by the APB to integrate the port into the city for the benefit of users, locals and tourists. The proposals are to focus on the Contramuelle-Mollet zone, particularly on the areas of Astilleros de Mallorca, the fishermen's wharfs, the fish market and the San Telmo gardens. The public areas occupied by the Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP) and the San Telmo Oratory will be outside the scope of action. The projects must redesign and establish the spaces, infrastructure and superstructures of the port area. The ultimate aim of the competition is to provide the foundations for reviewing the Use Plan (PUEP) and the Special Plan, transforming some zones into open spaces to achieve the sought-after increased connection to the sea and to establish places where required infrastructure could be located, such as the fish market and fishing services, among others. The proposals, which must be anonymous, are to be chosen through a panel of judges in a single non-binding phase. The authors will retain the intellectual property rights. However, the APB may use any of the ideas submitted in the undertaking of future actions relating to the competition without any obligation to form a contractual relationship with the contestants. The APB may favour the drawing up of a specific project in order to incorporate the ideas obtained in this competition into a call for tenders comprising one or several restricted processes in which the teams awarded in the competition will be invited to participate. Up for grabs in the competition is a first prize of €20,000, two second prizes of €10,000 and three third prizes of €5,000. Multidisciplinary competition The competition is open to all professional teams that include at least one architect and a civil engineer, who must be members of the corresponding associations and legally competent to draw up projects. Only one proposal may be submitted per team and individuals can only participate in one team. The proposals will be identified by means of a byword to ensure the anonymity of the contestants and a sealed opaque envelope will be used, on which the byword will be written and in which the identity of the authors with the corresponding signature will be found. The candidates will have two months to submit their work as from the closing of the registration period. The panel will be chaired by the President of the APB and the vice-president will be the mayor of the Palma City Council. Other members will include the director of the APB, the president of the Civil Engineering Association of the Balearic Islands (CICCP), the president of the Architects Association of the Balearic Islands (COAIB), an architect or engineer from the Mallorca Council, an architect or engineer from the Palma City Council, the head of the Planning and Sustainability Department of the APB, a representative of the Maritime Museum chosen by the Mallorca Council, a renowned architect chosen by the COAIB and a renowned civil engineer chosen by the CICCP. The judging panel will take into consideration the port-city integration of the area, the appropriateness of buildings, the urban and architectural suitability, environmental sustainability and innovation, and other factors. Port-city integration Among the main criteria that the panel will assess includes the location of the future Maritime Museum of Mallorca in the plot currently occupied by Astilleros de Mallorca, whose activity is expected to be moved elsewhere in the port, and the continuance of the current edge alignment of the docks, although some modifications may take place if duly justified. Furthermore, the fishing industry must continue in the same area of activity. As such, the market location, the fishermen's association, its offices and warehouses, and the drying lines, etc., will be maintained. The current arches on the facade of the building on the Fishermen's Wharf will also be preserved due to its emblematic image at the Port of Palma. Another requisite is that the proposals must work well with the Palma City Council's refurbishment project on the Seafront promenade and the RCNP's redevelopment project. Furthermore, the water surface area remaining from the activity schedule of the fishing fleet and that provided by the Maritime Museum will be earmarked for sailing and leisure. Additionally, redesigning the San Telmo gardens may also be considered. The rules and documentation related to the competition, as well as the registration dates, will be made public in the next few days through their publication in the Official State Gazette.

The APB to commence a period of reflection on the underground parking project at the Lonja dock

31/05/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is going to commence a period of reflection regarding the construction project of an unground car park at the Lonja dock at the Port of Palma. The period of reflection is to commence once the deadline for the submission of tenders for the works has passed. The Board of Directors of the APB, which met yesterday in an ordinary session, discussed the appropriateness of taking into consideration the opinions of citizen organisations regarding the car park construction in order to obtain consensus on the details, viability and suitability of the project. As such, it was decided that a period of reflection and consultation for the parties involved should commence, which will be coordinated by the APB. The aim is to listen to the opinions of the local authorities and citizen organisations on how to resolve the port-city integration matter, taking into consideration the current issue of parking, port-user access and pedestrianisation of the area. Two companies Meanwhile, the technical committee in charge of assessing the tenders submitted, continues to undertake formalities regarding the works, studying the tenders submitted by the companies Calima Park, SL and SABA Aparcamientos, S.A. Statements by the President, Joan Gual de Torrella

APB ATTENDS 52ND MEDCRUISE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN MALTA

24/05/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is taking part in the 52nd MedCruise General Assembly, which is taking place between 23rd-26th May in Valletta (Malta), where it is continuing its work to promote the ports of general interest on the Balearic Islands in the cruise market, with special emphasis on the Port of Mahon. Over these days, the delegation consisting of the President of the APB, Joan Gual de Torrella and the port authority's Cruise Business Manager, Francisca Leal, had the opportunity to liaise with the main cruise lines in the world and exchange views with other member ports of the association. MedCruise is an association that aims to promote and improve ports in order to expand cruise traffic in the Mediterranean. The APB is a member of this organisation, which has around one hundred members virtually dating back to when it began several decades ago.

The protocol to build an innovative marine science and technology hub at the Old Harbour of Palma has been signed

17/05/2018

Today, together with the Office of the Vice-President of the Government and the General Secretariat of Science and Innovation of the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Competitiveness, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands signed the protocol aimed at promoting the project to build the polo marino [marine hub] at the Old Harbour of the Port of Palma. This general protocol for action aims to establish a meeting place and collaboration between different public and private institutions and bodies with a view to promoting and furthering research activities, technological development and innovation in the marine and maritime sectors. The ceremony was also attended by the Mayor of Palma, Toni Noguera the general director of innovation, Pep Lluís Pons the director of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), Eduardo Balguerías the director of the Oceanographic Centre of the Balearic Islands (COB), Salud Deudero and the director of the Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System (SOCIB), Joaquim Tintorer. The signatory parties have established a framework of ongoing collaboration to provide the necessary support to the leading entities in the marine R&ampD&ampI sector, including SOCIB and COB, and in doing so bolster the sector's activity at the Port of Palma. The APB is expected to allocate the necessary space to facilitate the headquarters of SOCIB and COB at the Old Harbour of the Port of Palma. The two bodies, together with the IEO, have expressed their gratitude and positively welcome the signing of this protocol. Furthermore, in accordance with the signed protocol, special emphasis will be placed on areas of strategic interest for the Balearic Islands, such as marine science and the responsible management of the marine environment and coastline. Along the same lines, a further objective is to ensure that the entities based at the marine hub have contact with State ports with a view to enhancing their impact in society. In fact, the marine hub is expected to be the base for scientific-technical infrastructure to be used by the scientific and technological community both within Spain and abroad. In this regard, the president of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, Joan Gual de Torrella, said that "this commitment is in line with the resolution adopted by the APB's Board of Directors to harness the Old Harbour of the Port of Palma for port and maritime activities in the broadest sense of the term". The Mayor of Palma, Toni Noguera, who wanted to attend the signing ceremony in a bid to show the city's support for the maritime industry and the knowledge economy, pointed out that "the Old Harbour covers half the space used by Parc Bit yet generates double the amount of employment", which is testament to how significant this marine hub could be in creating wealth for the city. The Secretary-General for Science and Innovation, Juan María Vázquez, used the Port of Palma as an example for other port authorities, because "it is committed to utilising its port area for oceanographic and maritime research", an area in which Spain excels internationally. Meanwhile, the Vice-President and Minister for Innovation, Research and Tourism, Bel Busquets, said that "this government's strategy is based on diversifying the economic model, and a cornerstone of this strategy is undoubtedly the knowledge economy, marine science and technology. In addition, the knowledge that is created will be harnessed by decision-making bodies and within the business sector. She went on to say that "this project will create highly-skilled jobs, which will catapult us on to the international stage". The Polo Marino [Marine Hub] is an initiative driven by the Regional Department of Innovation, Research and Tourism with the backing of the APB and the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. The project is part of the Smart Specialisation Strategy in the Balearic Islands (RIS3), which will incorporate marine science and technology as one of the strategic foundations for diversifying the economic model. With this in mind, the strategy meets European Union objectives in terms of innovation and technological development and may receive assistance from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Meanwhile, the commitment made by the APB supports its desire to open up the Port of Palma to science and, in particular, to the people, giving it an increasingly social use that is reflected in the commissioning of this marine hub.