Noticias APB | Ports de Balears

Antonio López-Istúriz: “Shipping in Europe will increase 50% by 2030”

04/10/2013

Antonio López-Istúriz, the Secretary-General of the European People’s Party and Euro MP for the Balearic Islands, today gave the closing speech at the port law conference organised by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) at the Port of Palma in conjunction with the International Port Law Association, Acciona and the State-owned Ports Body. López-Istúriz highlighted the impact of ports in Europe and predicted a 50% increase in European goods shipping by 2030. He also revealed that the European Commission is keeping a close eye on the industry to “attract investment” aimed at developing European ports. “Europe needs ports and ports need Europe,” were the words of the Euro MP, who pointed out that the European Commission’s main challenges are to boost the development of European ports, promote short-sea shipping to free-up roads, and improve connections to land transport networks. To achieve this, according to López-Istúriz, action must involve using the future transport corridors, simplifying administrative procedures in ports by implementing e-management, monitoring public procurement mechanisms, promoting sustainable management and investing in innovation and human resources. Promotion and dialogue Immediately afterwards, Jorge Nasarre, the APB’s Director, summarised the two-day conference whose content centred on issues such as administrative concessions in ports, the analysis of TSJIB jurisprudence in relation to the APB, port authorities’ economic regulations and the urban development of State-owned ports’ service areas. Nasarre stressed the APB initiative was a way to promote and encourage transparent, open dialogue between government and private organisations in order to boost development in public-interest ports. The conference was attended by a large audience, the majority of whom were port facility managers from across Spain.

The APB organises port law conference for port facility managers at the Port of Palma

03/10/2013

The first day of a two-day conference on port law organised by the APB was held today at the Port of Palma. The conference was attended by numerous port facility managers from around Spain. After today’s speeches on administrative concessions in ports, an analysis of TSJIB jurisprudence in relation to the APB and port authorities’ economic regulations, amongst other subjects, the conference’s participants visited the maritime signalling exhibition at the Portopí lighthouse. The International Port Law Association, Acciona and the State-owned Ports Body all sponsored and took part in the conference. The conference programme is attached for further information

The Balearic Islands’ ports promote their activities at the Hamburg cruise convention under the umbrella of the State-owned Ports Body

27/09/2013

This week, the APB took part in the Seatrade Cruise Convention, which was held in the German city of Hamburg, as part of the Spanish delegation headed by the State-owned Ports Body. The Balearic Islands’ delegation, made up of APB staff and representatives of the islands’ shipping agents, met up with the industry’s main shipping companies to promote the Balearic Islands as a tourist destination for the cruise market and to work on the call schedules for the forthcoming seasons. A total of 704 calls are scheduled at the APB’s public interest ports for 2014: 479 at the Port of Palma, 128 at the Port of Ibiza, 83 at Mahon, 12 at the Port of La Savina and 2 at the Port of Alcudia.

The Official State Gazette publishes the APB’s 2012 Financial Statements which show profits of €14.4 million

17/09/2013

Yesterday, the Spanish Official Gazette published the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands’ 2012 Financial Statements, which showed profits of €14.4 million and a turnover of €59.5 million. These statements were audited by the State Comptroller’s Office with no reservations. Looking to the future, the APB’s investment plan includes a budget of €33.7 million for 2014. Priorities at the Port of Palma include the extension of the berthing line at the West Breakwater to cater for large cruise vessels, and redefining the surface layout of the Poniente Quays to improve the services offered to customers. Investment priorities at the Port of Ibiza centre on redesigning the port seafront, and developing and improving the commercial quays. Finally, investment at the Port of Mahon has been assigned to the dredging work, building the Cós Nou road, and constructing a dolphin for cruise vessels to berth at on the Passenger Quay. The 2014 investment plan took into account the reduction in port charges announced by the APB a few months ago which aimed to cut costs in the logistics chain and in turn encourage a decrease in the prices of basic consumer goods as a result of lower transport costs. Accordingly, the forecast budget for 2014 reflects a 30% reduction in passenger charges and an additional 5% in the goods charge (this charge was put down 5% in July 2012) which aim to boost the Balearic Islands’ economy. The 2014 budget also includes the lower charges announced by the Spanish Development Minister, Ana Pastor, totalling 5% of the basic amounts of the main port use charges and approximately 8.5% of the occupancy charge.

The Port of Alcudia welcomes its second cruise ship this year, the Prinsendam

15/09/2013

Today, the Port of Alcudia played host to the first call of the Prinsendam, the second cruise ship to put in at the Majorcan port this year. The vessel’s first visit was marked by the traditional exchange of plaques between the ship’s Captain, Tim Roberts the Head of the Port of Alcudia, Joan Gili the Mayor of Alcudia, Coloma Terrasa, and the Manager of the Miguel Puigserver shipping agency Toni Horrach.

Official reception for the MV Voyager at the Port of Palma

10/09/2013

An official reception was held today at the APB for the cruise ship, the MV Voyager, to mark its first call at the Port of Palma. The APB Chairman, José María Urrutia, presented the ship’s captain with the traditional commemorative plaque to mark the event. The reception was also attended by representatives from the vessel´s agent, Transcoma.

The Port of Alcudia welcomes The World cruise ship

08/08/2013

Today, the Port of Alcudia welcomed the 196 metre -long The World cruise ship, which has a displacement of 43,000 tonnes and carries an average of 125 to 200 passengers. This residential yacht is a floating community made up of millionaire passengers who have bought or rented one of the ship’s 165 private apartments. To mark the yacht’s first call at the Port of Alcudia, a ceremony to exchange the traditional commemorative plaques was held on board in which the APB’s Director, Jorge Nasarre, presented the ship’s Captain with a plaque to commemorate the event. The official reception was also attended by the Mayor of Alcudia, Coloma Terrassa, as well as by other members of the local council and representatives of the shipping agent, Lantimar.

The Port of Palma launches new electric car hire service for cruise passengers

31/07/2013

This season, the Port of Palma has launched a new electric car hire service for cruise passengers visiting the city of Palma and the surrounding areas. The Port Authority Chairman, José Mª Urrutia, presented this new service to the media today, which is offered by Hertz in the Pelaires gardens, located opposite the Passenger Terminal No. 2 at the Port of Palma. Urrutia explained that this initiative comes under the APB’s objective to promote public and private partnerships, and falls in line with its Green Port environmental policy, thus “contributing to sustainability and improving the environment in ports”. In turn, José María Pastor, the Hertz representative on the Balearic Islands, highlighted the popularity of this type of vehicles among cruise passengers who “at the end of the day’s hire ask whether they will find the same [electric car hire] service at their next port of call”. The Deputy Mayor of the Palma de Majorca Tourism Department, Álvaro Gijón, also pointed out the incentives and facilities offered by the City Council as part of its commitment to sustainable mobility, such as the parking fee exemption for electric vehicles in Palma’s controlled parking zones, and the battery charging stations that are being fitted throughout the city. Finally, the Regional Minister of Economy and Competitiveness, Joaquín García, pointed to the service as “another step forward” in the “clear and wholehearted” commitment to working hand-in-hand with the different authorities on the sustainable mobility policies that are being implemented in the Balearic Islands.

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands announces the 4th Balearic Island port and lighthouse painting and photography competition

26/07/2013

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has announced the 4th Balearic Island public interest port and lighthouse painting and photography competition in conjunction with the Palma de Majorca Fine Arts Society. The competition is open to all artists and photographers. The subject matter must be related to Balearic Islands’ lighthouses and the ports of Palma, Alcudia, Mahon, Ibiza and La Savina, which are all managed by the APB. There are three different categories to share out the prize money of almost €8,000 which has been put up by the APB: watercolour, other painting techniques and photography. The entries must be presented from 15th-31st October at the APB ports of Palma, Alcudia, Mahon, Ibiza or La Savina. A shortlist will then be put together, based on artistic quality and presentation. The selected works will be exhibited in different places or rooms which are yet to be established. The competition rules are available at www.portsdebalears.com.

Tender put out to construct a dolphin at the Port of Maó for large cruise vessels

25/07/2013

The APB has put out a public tender to construct a dolphin to extend the Passenger Quay’s Poniente berth at the Port of Maó so as to adapt the port’s facilities to the needs of the new cruise vessels that call at the Minorcan capital. The current berthing face of the Passenger Quay extension is approximately 176 metres long. This is not long enough for this type of vessels, given that the cruise ships scheduled to berth on this quay are over 200 metres long. This means that a considerable part of the vessels berthed there do not rest against the quay. In the light of this, the APB has planned the construction of a dolphin on this quay to improve berthing conditions, via a public tender for the work to extend the Passenger Quay’s Poniente berth at the Port of Maó. The budget for this improvement is €589,266.25.

Marina sa Riba set to manage the moorings for megayachts over 60 metres long at the Port of Ibiza

24/07/2013

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has granted a temporary occupancy authorisation for the Levante Quay at the Port of Ibiza to the company Marina sa Riba, S.L. to manage moorings for yachts over 60 metres long. The authorisation has been granted for twelve months, which can be extended for a further year at most, until the public tender to grant a concession for these port spaces, which will be put out some time in the future, is resolved. Marina sa Riba was rated as the best proposal of the three companies that put in for the tender which was called last May by the APB’s Board of Directors. The aim of the tender is to strengthen the Port of Ibiza’s position in the megayacht market, and thus cater for existing demand on the island for large vessel moorings. With a total fee offered of €601,000 per year, and an investment proposal of approximately €500,000 in removable facilities, Marina sa Riba now manages, as of today, a surface area of over 24,000 m2, of which more than 22,000 m2 correspond to water surface. Large yachts are now able to berth at the Port of Ibiza’s Levante Dock thanks to the transfer of commercial port operations located in this area of the Port to the new Botafoc Quays which took place at the beginning of July.

The Port of Ibiza restricts parking at the Marina to promote pedestrianisation

05/07/2013

The Port of Ibiza is to introduce paid parking at the Marina to revitalise the area and promote pedestrianisation after reaching an agreement with the Town Council and taking into account the opinion and needs of residents and traders. Car park access will be controlled by an automatic barrier system which will subsequently allow cars to exit after they have paid the corresponding fee based on the time they have used the car park. In agreement with the Ibiza Town Council, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has approved tariffs of €1.20 per hour in low season and €2.40 per hour during the months of June, July, August and September. The APB-managed car park will have around one hundred spaces and will come into service during the month of July when the barriers and ticket machines are ready. Residents and traders Marina residents, defined by the Council according to the criteria established by the town hall, will be charged a special rate which will be the same as the tariff applied to residents in the town’s controlled parking zones. The APB will regulate the right to these special rates according to the resident census validated by the Town Council. In turn, traders and distributors registered by the APB will be given a certain amount of time without charge to unload and load goods to supply the Marina’s businesses. This scheme aims to increase vehicle turnover in a unique area linking the port and the town which this week ceased to handle domestic maritime traffic. This traffic has now been moved to the Botafoc Quays. After the removal of the Perspex fencing that separated the restricted area of the port from the town thus opening up pedestrian access to the sea, the APB has allocated one of the traffic lanes for parking to increase the amount of space solely for pedestrians on the quayside.