Good response to Open House Day at the Porto Colom lighthouse organized by the APB on Facebook

Good response to Open House Day at the Porto Colom lighthouse organized by the APB on Facebook

11/06/2012

The APB successfully organized last Saturday, the first lighthouse open house, through a Facebook page that is linked to the web portal www.farsdebalears.com. The lighthouse chosen for this initiative was at Porto Colom in the Majorcan municipality of Felanitx and the response from lighthouse enthusiasts was excellent. About one hundred people took the opportunity to climb up to the lighthouse beacon of Portocolom, where the technician responsible maritime signals for this installation, Paco Montanes, told visitors stories and intriguing anecdotes about this particular lighthouse. Because of the interest lighthouses arouse among the general public all around the world and the existent demand to satisfy this interest, the APB decided to share this precious heritage, in both a material and human documentary that revolves around the world of lighthouses in the Balearic Islands with the creation of the web portal www.farsdebalears.com.

First docking of a ship at the north quay of the Botafoc docks in the port of Ibiza

First docking of a ship at the north quay of the Botafoc docks in the port of Ibiza

04/06/2012

This evening the port of Ibiza will carry out a test trail for docking ships at the new north quay of the Botafoc docks after the reception of the partial stage of the construction which has been regarded as completed. However, this does not mean that the new facility will be put into service to the public at this time. The ship Federico Garcia Lorca, from the company Balearia and coming from the port of Denia, will be responsible for inaugurating the north quay, at approximately seven o´clock. Construction work on the port of Ibiza is on schedule. Work on the development of the esplanade is progressing well and is forecast to be completed in autumn, once the high season is finished. Once the Botafoc docks start to function, existing deficiencies in security, space and comfort in the port will be resolved and heavy, disturbing port operations will be moved away from the urban center.

La Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares convoca el III Concurso de Pintura y Fotografía sobre los faros y puertos de Baleares

La Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares convoca el III Concurso de Pintura y Fotografía sobre los faros y puertos de Baleares

28/05/2012

La Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares (APB) ha convocado el III Concurso de Pintura y Fotografía, dedicado en esta edición a los puertos de interés general de Baleares. En el certamen colaboran el Círculo de Bellas Artes de Palma de Mallorca y el Centro de Historia y Cultura Militar de Palma.En el concurso pueden participar todos los pintores y fotógrafos que lo deseen, con la condición de que el tema de las obras presentadas estén relacionadas con los faros de las Islas Baleares y los puertos de Palma, Alcúdia, Maó, Eivissa y la Savina, gestionados todos por la APB.La APB aporta una dotación económica en premios de seis mil cuatro cientos euros repartidos en tres categorías: acuarela, otras técnicas pictóricas y fotografía. Las obras deberán depositarse del 15 al 30 de octubre en los resgistros de la APB de los puertos de Palma, Maó y Eivissa. El Jurado de Selección y Calificación estará formado por representantes de la APB, del Círculo de Bellas Artes de Palma de Mallorca y diversas personas de reconocido prestigio del mundo del arte que serán nombrados por la APB a propuesta del Círculo de Bellas Artes de Palma de Mallorca. Las obras premiadas serán objeto de una exposición que se organizará a final de año en el Centro de Historia y Cultura Militar de Palma (claustro de Santa Margalida).Las bases del concurso pueden consultarse en www.portsdebalears.com.

The port of Palma grants the NPC new premises in Ferry Terminal 3 in the port of Palma

The port of Palma grants the NPC new premises in Ferry Terminal 3 in the port of Palma

12/04/2012

The president of the Balearic Islands Port Authority, José María Urrutia, and the chief of the National Police Headquarters in the Balearic Islands, Antonio Emilio Jarabo, today presented to the media the new location that the port of Palma has granted to the National Police in Ferry Terminal 3. The president of the APB stressed that this cession responds to the request made by the Police for premises in the port to ensure better security in embarking and disembarking and alien control, given the forecast increase in passengers for the coming years. Meanwhile, the chief of police in the Balearic Islands has pointed out the synergy between the two administrations to provide better service to citizens. These new facilities will house a group of the UPR, as well as a motorcycle unit with a force of about ninety. The National Police already has two locations provided by the port of Palma in Ferry Terminal 2.

The port of Palma will have two new passenger boarding gangways

The port of Palma will have two new passenger boarding gangways

30/03/2012

The APB has acquired two new gangways for boarding / disembarking passengers at the port of Palma. Large cruise ships have problems with traditional gangways because the angle of slope to access their entrances is very pronounced. The new gangways, which are located at Ferry Terminals 1 and 3, are in two sections and the steepness of the slope angle is reduced. The APB will receive the new walkways, constructed and installed by the company TEAM, in the first week of April. They will enter into service after making the relevant trials and training the operators. The contract’s budget for these two approaches has been elevated to 2.2 million euros.

The president of the APB promotes Balearic Islands destination in Miami fair

The president of the APB promotes Balearic Islands destination in Miami fair

14/03/2012

The president of the APB, José María Urrutia leads the Balearic delegation to the Miami Seatrade Cruise Shipping fair, to promote the Balearic Islands as an attractive cruise destination. "This is a joint effort led by the APB to reinforce the idea of the importance of the destination, that is to say, the combination of port infrastructure and tourist offer, and to present this package in Miami," said Urrutia. The APB has its own booth at the Miami cruise fair which shipping agents and tourism operators from the Islands, as well as the Department of Tourism and Sports and the municipalities of Ibiza, Mahon and Alcudia, will use as a platform to promote the different island ports as gateways to the Balearic Islands destination.

The APB leads a delegation to the cruise fair in Miami

The APB leads a delegation to the cruise fair in Miami

08/03/2012

Once again, the Balearic delegation, headed by the chairman of the APB, José María Urrutia, will participate next week in the Miami Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention, the world´s largest cruise industry fair. They will be representing the Balearic Islands in this promotional event organized by the State Ports every year in this American city. Together with the APB, shipping agents and tourism representatives from the Islands will form part of delegation traveling to Miami. The Department of Tourism and Sports and the municipalities of Ibiza, Alcudia and Mahon will also be using of the stand sponsored by the APB for their promotional activities. Following the historic season of 2011, which beat important records in both numbers of stopovers and passengers, the current season begins the culmination of important infrastructures for the enhancement of cruise traffic. These include the expansion of the Poniente docks of the port of Palma and the construction of the Botafoc docks in the port of Ibiza.

Cruise passengers are very satisfied with the ports of destination in the Balearic Islands

Cruise passengers are very satisfied with the ports of destination in the Balearic Islands

08/03/2012

67.3% of cruise passengers who made landfall last year at the port of Palma were very satisfied with the tourist product experienced while visiting the island of Majorca, according to a satisfaction survey conducted for the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) for the 2011 season. What they valued most were the natural landscapes and heritage of the Island and what they valued least were prices in general. The vast majority devoted their time exploring on their own and going shopping. The average expenditure per person per day ranged from 50 to 58 euros in shops, bars, on souvenirs and in transportation, according to whether the cruise passenger was on a stopover or the port was a base. These data are derived from the satisfaction surveys conducted under the initiative of the APB of more than two thousand cruise passengers from the ports of Palma, Ibiza and Mahon, during the 2011 cruise season. In addition to their degree of satisfaction of the tourist product, their views on the ports visited were also sought. In the case of Palm, 61.1% were very satisfied with the port. The most positive results were for safety, cleanliness and the friendliness of staff, while the worst scores were for lack of tourist information and the long distances that must be traveled on foot. In regards to Mahon, 77.4% were very satisfied. The most appreciated aspects were safety, cleanliness, friendliness of staff and the short distances to travel on foot, while the worst was the lack of tourist information available. Finally, in Ibiza, 53.9% were very satisfied with the port. The highest scores were for the friendly staff, security, cleanliness and accessibility, while the lowest were for lack of available tourist information and signage.

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands awards the tender to dredge the Port of Maó to Sacyr

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands awards the tender to dredge the Port of Maó to Sacyr

07/03/2012

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has awarded the tender for the dredging work at the Port of Maó to the company Sacyr. The total amount of the tender is €2,001,022.17, including VAT. Sacyr presented the best offer of the fourteen companies that put in for the tender to dredge the area near the Naval Base and the Port of Maó’s Cós Nou road. Work will begin this month. The project involves the dredging and the subsequent controlled discharge of 200,000 m3 of dredged material which will be disposed of across a 250,000 m2 area of the seabed. The aim is to obtain minimum depths of between 8 and 9 metres to ensure regular line vessels, oil tankers and cruise liners can manoeuvre safely in the port. The project has all the mandatory authorisations.

La APB saca a concurso la gestión de los amarres de la ribera norte del puerto de Maó

La APB saca a concurso la gestión de los amarres de la ribera norte del puerto de Maó

15/02/2012

La APB ha convocado un nuevo concurso para la gestión de los amarres de la ribera norte en el puerto de Maó tras la renuncia de Ocibar. En el pliego de condiciones del concurso destaca la reducción de las tarifes máximas propuestas para embarcacions con amarre permanente. De esta forma, las tarifas máximas para embarcaciones de base tendrán como tope 0,35 euros por metro cuadrado al día, frente a los 0,70 euros del anterior concurso. Además, las embarcaciones de menos de siete metros de eslora que se encuentran en la actualidad en la concesión, pasarán de pagar 0,10 euros metro cuadrado día a 0,01 euros. Además, a diferencia de las bases de 2006, en las actuales las tarifas de base tendrán un peso del 90 por ciento en la valoración de este apartado. En las nuevas bases del concurso, la mejora de las tasas pierde peso en relación al resto de factores, mientras que aumenta la importancia de dar mayor y mejor servicio a los usuarios, minimizar el impacto ambiental y también gana valor, proporcionalmente, el proyecto básico. El período de duración de la concesión será de 10 años como máximo, lo que supone un recorte del plazo de cinco años frente al anterior concurso. Esta medida se adopta en previsión de que el nuevo concesionario tendrá que hacer frente a una menor inversión ya que Ocibar ha realizado una buena parte de las obras de mejora necesarias en la concesión, y por tanto, se reducirán los años de amortización de la nueva inversión. El plazo de presentación de ofertes concluye a las 14 horas del próximo 15 de mayo de 2012.

The APB protects the underwater site found in the Botafoc

The APB protects the underwater site found in the Botafoc

14/02/2012

The APB (Port Authority of the Balearic Islands) has protected the underwater site found during the redevelopment of the docks of Botafoc in the port of Ibiza and has moved the material, by prescription of the Insular Commission of Territory, Urban Planning and Historical-Artistic Heritage (Ciothupa), to the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology (ARQUA) in Cartagena, for scientific-historical investigation. The APB conducted an archaeological report which accounts for the amplification of the excavation to the central zone of the site of a seventeenth-century ship wreck and proposed the in situ conservation of the site with a coating system to ensure its conservation and the future possibility of reopening it and performing dry work. The Ibiza Council aims to set up an exhibition with all the material taken from the bottom, amongst which two bronze cannons have been found. In addition, the entire excavation process was recorded on video to document the findings.

El puerto de Alcúdia apuesta también por el turismo de cruceros

El puerto de Alcúdia apuesta también por el turismo de cruceros

04/02/2012

La nueva estación marítima de Alcúdia dará la bienvenida el próximo 26 de julio al Sea Cloud, un crucero turístico de 109 metros de eslora y del consignatario Transcoma Baleares. La embarcación hará escala en el puerto de Alcúdia procedente de Maó y con destino a Ciutadella. El Sea Cloud será el primer crucero que llegue a Alcúdia tras las últimas obras realizadas por la APB en las que se ha invertido más de 30 millones y que han supuesto la construcción de una estación marítima y pasarelas y mejoras en el calado. Este barco no será el único que llegue a Alcúdia ya que el 15 de septiembre de 2013 el Prinsendam, de 204 metros de eslora y del consignatario Miguel Puigserver, hará escala en su viaje de Motril.