The new water surface cleaning service in the ports of Eivissa and La Savina consists of cutting-edge technological equipment

The new water surface cleaning service in the ports of Eivissa and La Savina consists of cutting-edge technological equipment

06/10/2022

The water surface cleaning service in the ports of Eivissa and La Savina takes a step forward with the use of unique devices on the Spanish coastline. The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is therefore committed to using energy-efficient and more sustainable equipment to keep the ports clean and, at the same time, reduce the carbon footprint. The commitment of the company Patena Pitiusas, in charge of this work, involves not exceeding 20 objects in an area of 50,000 square metres. The service is managed by a team of professionals on duty 24/7, 365 days a year, who respond to possible incidents within a maximum of 30 minutes. The 818,000 square metres of water surface in the port of Eivissa require 38 half-days of work per month, while the 53,000 square metres in the port of La Savina are kept in perfect condition with 6 half-days. A thorough cleaning of the water sheet improves the safety of the port, reducing the probability of collisions with large objects, blocked propellers and breakdowns due to obstruction in the cooling circuits. Waste collected Since October 2020, 42 anti-pollution days have taken place. Of the almost 5 tonnes of waste collected between October 2020 and July 2022, 47% is from rejects, 33% from organic waste and 20% from plastic. The majority comes from land (38%), while 26% comes from the sea. To a lesser extent, the sewage treatment plant, boating and fishing. Waste is classified by origin (sewage treatment plant, land, sea, nautical and fishing) and by typology (plastics, organic, rejects and others). All of this is recorded in a useful scientific database. In addition, emergencies are attended to in the event of oil spills, grey water, navigation obstacles, fires at APB, and ships sinking. Vessels Three vessels are used to clean the water surface. The first, 100% electric and solar-powered, has a large central hydraulic shovel, capable of picking up objects ranging from 10 millimetres to one tonne. It is 8.5 metres long and has a shallow draft (0.5 m) for shallow water operation. A second vessel cleans up areas of greater risk and bad weather conditions as it is equipped with flexible, highly resistant sides, and operates in anti-pollution initiatives. It is hybrid and has photovoltaic panels and an electric motor. The cleaning equipment is complemented by a two-metre surface cleaning drone and a 250-litre marine waste collection basket with 8 hours of autonomy. It is designed to reach the most difficult access areas between jetties and boats.

Environment and CSR Technology and innovation
APB reflects with its stakeholders on the energy transition in the Mediterranean

APB reflects with its stakeholders on the energy transition in the Mediterranean

28/09/2022

One hundred people gathered this morning at the institutional headquarters of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) to listen to the presentations and reflections on Mar Blue 2022, entitled “The energy transition in the Mediterranean Sea”. The conference, organised in collaboration with the Balearic Marine Cluster and MEDVOLT Marine, explored the necessary energy transition in the Mediterranean Sea, to determine the challenges and opportunities this creates for the nautical and port industry. It has provided first-hand knowledge of the initiatives that are already underway in the private sector, as well as the tools and aid that the public sector is supplying to facilitate and promote traffic towards a blue and sustainable economy. The meeting began with the director of the APB, Jorge Nasarre arguing in favour of “achieving the climate neutrality of the ports”, which requires the implementation of ambitious solutions and at least three strategic lines of action: Energy efficiency, decarbonising port activity and reconverting energy production, storage and distribution infrastructures for fossil fuels. In relation to today’s event, Nasarre pointed out that the main purpose “is to make the sector and society aware of the magnitude and urgency of the challenge we are facing, but also to inspire the design of global and local decarbonisation strategies, to reflect on the potential for new business opportunities that the change towards an energy model based on renewable sources opens up for the ports and, finally, to provide a space for optimism”.

Environment and CSR Socio-economic development Technology and innovation
The APB transforms its vehicle fleet to make it more sustainable

The APB transforms its vehicle fleet to make it more sustainable

20/09/2022

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has replaced its more than 10-year-old combustion vehicles with electric ones, in order to reduce its carbon footprint and form a more sustainable transport fleet. This covers a total of 29 vehicles: 19 vans, 2 passenger cars, 1 ATV and 7 motorcycles. 20 of them are for Palma, 3 for Alcúdia, 5 for Maó and 1 for Elvissa. The project is part of the plan to replace the vehicles of the General State Administration with others that do not emit pollutants into the atmosphere (ZERO label). This will result in a more modern and efficient vehicle fleet, thanks to financial support from the Next-Generation EU Recovery Fund.

Environment and CSR Technology and innovation
Today the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands celebrates its 150th anniversary

Today the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands celebrates its 150th anniversary

16/08/2022

Today the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the approval by Royal Order of the creation of the Works Committee of the Port of Palma, its own port management body that gave rise to the current APB after several name changes and ports of competence throughout its history. On 16 August 1872, the Director General of Public Works, acting on behalf of the Minister of Public Works, authorised the creation of "a Committee responsible for everything related to the improvements made in the port of Palma". This committee was made up of the governor of the province, as president, and representatives of the Provincial Council, Town Council, Trade Section, Board of Agriculture, Industry and Trade, two merchants, two shipowners, two landowners and, lastly, the Navy commander and civil engineer. 150th anniversary banner To commemorate this date, the APB has commissioned a banner with the names of the current members of its Board of Directors. The illustrator, Flavia Gargiulo, and the calligrapher, Paz Alomar, have been commissioned to immortalise for the entity’s history a list of the highest-ranking officials of the port authority. The APB thus continues the tradition begun in 1972, when it celebrated the centenary of the creation of the port's managing body, with two banners designed with the names of the members of the Committee of the Port of Palma in 1872 and 1972. B. Moll designed these banners. Mariano de Quintana is listed as the head of the 1872 Port Committee, while one hundred years later, in 1972, Miguel Nigorra Oliver held the position of president, with Antonio Dicenta de Vera as director and Antonio Cirerol Thomás as secretary. In 2022, Francesc Antich Oliver is elected president, Jorge Nasarre López director and María Antonia Ginard Moll secretary of the Board of Directors, so far the only woman to hold this position in the history of the institution. Domingo Bonnín Daniel, representing the Consell Insular de Mallorca and the latest addition to the Board of Directors, appears in the 2022 banner. Pomegranates and Gothic lettering The Madrid-based illustrator, Flavia Gargiulo, has used flowers and pomegranates to illustrate the banner, with golden details to enhance the 150th anniversary logo created for the occasion, while the calligrapher, Paz Alomar, has opted for Gothic lettering to continue the classic tradition of the APB’s banners. The work is done on natural goatskin parchment.

150th anniversary History
The APB resumes the Port Bus service in the port of Eivissa and improves intra-port connections

The APB resumes the Port Bus service in the port of Eivissa and improves intra-port connections

01/08/2022

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) will resume the Port Bus service for passengers between 1 August and 31 October 2022 in the port of Eivissa, with stops at the Botafoc docks, the Formentera maritime station and the Commercial docks. The operating times for this service will be linked to the scheduled arrivals and departures of maritime transport and will be managed by the bus transport company Sagalés. Following several meetings held between the APB, Eivissa Town Council and the Consell d’Eivissa, the latter being the competent authorities for public land transport, measures have been proposed and implemented to provide adequate means of transport to respond to the large influx of passengers in the Botafoc area. These meetings were held in a climate of constructive dialogue and collaboration between public administrations. In addition, the Town Council has asked the taxi sector of Eivissa and the other town councils to collaborate so that taxi drivers can properly attend to priority services such as the port, the airport and health centres, among others. On the other hand, the Consell de Eivissa is coordinating other types of actions which, if carried out, would further improve the connectivity of the Botafoc area. City Boat Since 2018, the APB has had an inter-port maritime connection service called City Boat, which connects the Botafoc docks with the city, with stops at the es Martell platforms at the Ibiza marina, and with routes that pass near Talamanca beach. This maritime service focuses on the sustainability of passenger transport with the reduction of road traffic in the port area.

The Club Náutico de Ibiza will manage the facility it currently occupies until the resolution of the tender

The Club Náutico de Ibiza will manage the facility it currently occupies until the resolution of the tender

01/08/2022

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) agreed yesterday in an ordinary meeting to extend the authorisation granted on 5 May 2021 to the Club Náutico de Ibiza for the management of the facility it currently occupies, until the resolution of the tender or, where appropriate, until 8 March 2023 at the latest. On 6 June, the terms and conditions of the tender were agreed for the management of a nautical facility for small and medium sized yachts in the port of Eivissa, consisting of a total area of 29,309 square metres (22,596 square metres of water and 6,713 square metres of land), which focused particularly on the promotion and teaching of the sport that is a benchmark of social responsibility in the maritime sector.

Transport and infrastructure Socio-economic development
Tanit Ibiza Port will manage the mooring places for large boats at Punta da Cala Figuera in the port of Maó

Tanit Ibiza Port will manage the mooring places for large boats at Punta da Cala Figuera in the port of Maó

01/08/2022

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has chosen the proposal submitted by Tanit Ibiza Port S.A. as the most advantageous solution in the public tender to grant authorisation for the management of mooring places at Punta de Cala Figuera, on the Levante quay of the port of Maó. The administrative authorisation consists of an area of 22,188 square metres of water, with 32 metres of quay located at Punta de Cala Figuera and a mixed floating pontoon used for mooring pleasure boats. It is divided into 30 mooring places for 25 to 60 metre-long boats. The duration of the authorisation will be 2 years, extendable up to a maximum of 3. The initial occupancy fee was 192,705 euros, which Tanit Ibiza Port has increased by 800,000 euros, in addition to the 4% activity fee.

Transport and infrastructure Socio-economic development
The APB awards Ocibar the management of mooring places and commercial premises at Botafoc

The APB awards Ocibar the management of mooring places and commercial premises at Botafoc

01/08/2022

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has chosen the proposal submitted by Ocibar as the most advantageous solution for the award of the management of the mooring places and commercial premises at Botafoc, in the port of Eivissa. The purpose of this tender is the management and operation of a plot of 97,706 square metres, of which 43,279 square metres correspond to areas of land, on which 16 buildings are built for commercial use and for mooring and repairing boats, and the rest for a water body, where mooring facilities are provided for 432 boats distributed over five pontoons. The duration of the concession will be 18 months, renewable up to a maximum of 9 months. The initial occupancy fee was 2,432,378 euros per year, which Ocibar has increased by 7,285,000 euros, in addition to the 4% activity fee.

Transport and infrastructure Socio-economic development
The APB will put out to tender the management of mooring places in the Colársega area of the port of Maó

The APB will put out to tender the management of mooring places in the Colársega area of the port of Maó

29/07/2022

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) agreed yesterday, in an ordinary meeting, to approve the terms and conditions of the public tender for awarding a public concession contract for an area of 20,135 square metres of water where seven fixed pontoons are currently located in order to provide mooring facilities for pleasure boats in the Colársega area in the port of Maó. Previously, the request for an extension of the term of the port concession contract by Marina Deportiva de Menorca, of which it was the holder and whose term had expired, had been denied. The new concession contract will allow for a different layout and management, with the obligation to provide a minimum of 75 mooring places for up to 8-metre-long vessels, with longer concession periods enabling the amortisation of the major investments required to offer better and higher quality services. The easement to the existing public slipway will continue to be respected in the area of water covered by the concession contract. The annual occupancy fee is 109,086 euros and the activity fee, in accordance with articles 187 and 188 of the State Ports Act, will be 4%. It will have a maximum term of 20 years.

Transport and infrastructure Socio-economic development
Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) to begin the remodelling of Palma’s seafront promenade at the end of this summer

Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) to begin the remodelling of Palma’s seafront promenade at the end of this summer

27/07/2022

La Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares (APB) ha anunciado hoy que prevé iniciar las obras de remodelación del paseo Marítimo de Palma dentro del mes de octubre, pero no antes del domingo 9, fecha en la que se celebra el Zafiro Palma Marathon Mallorca, para no interferir en su organización. El presupuesto de ejecución rondará los 38 millones de euros, sin IVA, y las obras tendrán una duración prevista de 20 meses. El director de la APB, Jorge Nasarre, ha remarcado así mismo que el inicio de las obras está condicionado también a la firma del contrato con la empresa adjudicataria. En este momento la APB dispone de una candidata de las 11 licitadoras presentadas al concurso, pero la tramitación está a la espera de la resolución de dos ofertas económicas incursas en baja temeraria. The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) announced today that it plans to begin work on the remodelling of Palma’s promenade in October, but not before Sunday the 9th, the date on which the Zafiro Palma Marathon Mallorca will be held, to avoid any possible disruption to the organisation of the event. The total budget for the project will be around 38 million euros, excluding VAT, with the works scheduled to last 20 months. The director of the APB, Jorge Nasarre, has also remarked that the start of the works is also conditional on the signing of the contract with the company awarded the contract. The APB currently has 1 candidate out of the 11 bidders in the tender, but the process is still awaiting a decision on two financial bids that are considered unreasonably low. Earlier this morning, the APB released details of the project drawn up by the Martínez Lapeña-Torres Arquitectes architectural studio, together with a team from Grupo TYPSA, as well as a two-minute virtual reality video showing what the final result of the project will look like. According to the mayor of Palma, José Hila, who also took part in the presentation held at the institutional headquarters of the APB in the port of Palma, “the remodelling is very ambitious: we will transform the seafront of Palma, breaking down the existing barrier and bringing Palma closer to the sea”. “This is a prime example of the ongoing transformation of Palma, a more sustainable and green city where the citizens, who are going to reclaim the sea, are the main protagonists. It will also revitalise commercial activity in the area and generate employment, both of which are also key issues. This is an opportunity for our city that will start to become a reality this year”, Mr Hila added. In the opinion of Jorge Nasarre, “this new stage of Palma’s promenade is in line with the port’s tradition of improving the city’s connectivity, this time with people rather than road traffic in mind”. A promenade for pedestrians Ibizan architect Elías Torres, who was in charge of publicly unveiling the project, gave a detailed explanation of the remodelling project, which he described as “a promenade for pedestrians”. Pedestrian space will increase from 29.5% to 39.7%, whilst the pavements in the area furthest from the sea, which are now between 2.5 and 5 metres wide, will be increased from 5 to 10 metres. In this way, the compatibility of uses – such as terraces, green areas, parking, bus stops, containers, etc. – will be guaranteed, without disturbing pedestrians. On the seaward side of the promenade, spaces will be designated for pedestrians to take strolls and sit down. Another improvement is an increase in cross connectivity with a doubling of pedestrian crossings (from 13 to 26), from one crossing every 250-370 metres to every 100 metres. Mobility study The reduction of vehicle space is supported by a mobility study which shows that such a reduction is feasible. Moreover, for more than two years now, a reduction of one lane in each direction of traffic has been a reality, with no serious traffic flow issues being observed for the time being. The resulting proposal is for a promenade with two lanes in each direction, 64,300 square metres of road surface and 35% vehicle space, as opposed to the current 3-4 lanes in each direction, 107,000 square metres of road surface and 58.5% vehicle space. The management of public transport is also undergoing some change: bus lines and stops are being maintained, with improved space and waiting conditions and new bus shelters. The cycle lane will double its share of the promenade (from 2% to 5%), with 5 new parking spots and a length of 3.5 km. A green promenade The proposal presented by Torres increases the number of trees threefold and doubles the number of palm trees and flowerbeds (from 9.7% to 20%). This will include 1,820 new trees, 512 palm trees, 69 transplanted specimens and 20 new species. On top of all this, accessible facilities, children’s play areas, containers and other services and infrastructures will be introduced. Monuments, sculptures and sundials along the promenade have also been marked, preserved or relocated. One of the most outstanding works is the restructuring of the road junction in the area of Paraires, which will make room for the urban and landscape integration of the new Club de Mar, on which work is still underway. Meanwhile, in the area of Sa Riera, pedestrian circulation will be prioritised at the junction with Avenida Argentina, with much wider pavements and a new system of accessible ramps. Thus, in addition to addressing one of the main problems of the promenade, it will also improve access to the neighbouring Plaça de Sant Elm. Access will also be improved to Plaça de Santo Domingo de la Calzada. The pedestrian area will be unified in this space thanks to the elimination of the service lane and the installation of a children’s play area. The connection with the neighbourhood of Es Jonquet will also be improved.

Transport and infrastructure Port-city Socio-economic development
In 2021, the APB invested 820 thousand euros in rebates on port dues concessions relating to environmental protection

In 2021, the APB invested 820 thousand euros in rebates on port dues concessions relating to environmental protection

27/07/2022

"Towards a sustainable horizon" was the slogan of the presentation of the Sustainability Report 2021, which took place today at the institutional headquarters of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB). This document marks as a priority of the public authority the development of the future of the ports, guaranteeing the common good, by offering both the public and private sectors what is considered an essential space for the islands. At the same time, the Strategic Plan indicates the path to follow to achieve this objective: to guarantee the maritime supply and connectivity of the Balearic Islands in the most efficient and safe conditions, and to facilitate the socio-economic activities that contribute to their development in terms of economic and environmental sustainability and integration with the surrounding areas. As stated in the report, the key factor of its strategic planning is sustainability, combining the efforts of society as a whole to achieve a friendlier planet that focuses more on the challenges of the future. In this regard, one of the areas in which work is being carried out is related to anti-corruption. The APB is committed to guaranteeing efficient, transparent and quality management, which, together with the publication of the Code of Ethics, aims to build trust in all actions taken by the organisation. The director of the APB, Jorge Nasarre, was responsible for opening the event and welcoming those present. He highlighted how pre-pandemic figures had exceeded 49 million euros in 2021. However, “while it is clearly important to maintain a robust financial situation that allows us to undertake maintenance and improvement projects, we would not be on the right track if our economic sustainability were not also accompanied by significant progress in the environmental, social and governance sectors”. The head of the APB’s Quality, Environment, Sustainability and CSR department, Jorge Martín, presented the contents of the report, stressing that innovation and sustainability are two essential concepts of the Strategic Plan: “Changing, evolving, adapting to new demands, making improvements, redesigning processes and innovating in all areas of our port activity in order to achieve that sustainable business model that will make us better day by day”, he pointed out. Towards a more sustainable activity Extensive mapping has identified up to 87 stakeholders, who have been asked for their opinion on the APB and its management in terms of sustainability and CSR. The conclusions drawn from this dialogue confirm the importance of the environmental sector in the context of sustainability, the importance of circularity in APB’s projects and the emergence of equality and the promotion of youth employment as key material aspects. Thus, the APB is in a process of adaptation in which sustainable management should contemplate an increase in the volume of container, solid and liquid bulk, general cargo and passenger traffic, as well as a reduction in the consumption of energy and natural resources, the volume of waste produced and the negative impacts on social systems and ecosystems in the areas of influence of the ports. The Report also provides relevant data: 2,771 public domain titles and services 11.4 million tonnes moved (11.3% more than in 2020) 2.4 million passengers (61.5% more than in 2020) 237 training sessions carried out 11 good practice agreements in force, with an annual investment of 152,204 euros and 820,333 euros in bonuses for environmental protection by the concessionaires. Among the key operational objectives in terms of the environment are the minimisation of the negative environmental effects of maritime transport, development of energy generation and efficiency alternatives as well as the positioning of the APB ports as a reference in environmental management. People as a basic pillar The general public and users of the ports occupy a special place in the CSR plan, which constitutes one of the main strategic objectives. “Our commitment is not only to offer better services every day but to do so in an intelligent and environmentally friendly way, promoting actions with a social impact that have repercussions on the environmental quality of the surroundings in which our activity takes place”, concluded Martín.

Environment and CSR Socio-economic development Technology and innovation
Shipping accounts for 15% of air pollution in Palma

Shipping accounts for 15% of air pollution in Palma

18/07/2022

In recent years, the stakeholders of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) have become increasingly concerned about air quality and its possible impact on the activity in the ports it manages, hence today’s conference entitled “Air quality, a priority for our ports”. During the meeting, experienced speakers addressed the problem and the solution from different perspectives, placing special emphasis on the importance of having sufficient economic and human resources to ensure that the processes of monitoring and controlling air quality are rigorous and accurate, in order to obtain objective, reliable and real data for accountability and strategic decision-making. Thus, the president of the APB, Francesc Antich, highlighted the major issues concerning the public authority in environmental matters, such as “the fight against climate change and pollution and the defence of biodiversity and natural resources”. Regarding air quality, he said that this is a matter of debate in view of the activity of our ports, as well as other activities such as road traffic. The APB highlighted the fact that the flagship project in this context deals with the implementation of the cold ironing system in the ports of Palma, Eivissa, Maó and Alcúdia. This will enable ferries to connect to the on-shore power grid while they are moored at the port in order to reduce the emission of gases and noise generated by them during waiting, disembarkation and embarkation operations. This technique is an alternative way for ships to keep machinery idle and therefore eliminate the impact produced by their noise and pollution. Manuel Vellón, head of the APB’s air quality monitoring system, confirmed that the main pollutants studied are sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. The air quality sensors in the port of Palma have been providing validated data since September 2019, and results have shown pollution to be below the levels established by current legislation. Furthermore, the Director General of Energy and Climate Change, Pep Malagrava, presented the collaboration agreement between different institutions on air quality in Palma, in which the APB and AENA and others will participate, “key and essential infrastructures in an island community, following strategies to boost resilience and reduce emissions”. The Sustainability Observatory was also presented by Fernando Prieto, and the APB’s environmental strategy, by the head of the Quality, Environment, Innovation and CSR Department, Jorge Martín. Finally, the different projects related to this subject that the public authority is carrying out were presented: air quality monitoring, the Eiffel project, Greenhyland and incorporation into the Ecological Transition Cluster. Transparency and active listening Through this type of meeting, which is open to the public and the media, the APB is committed to the transparency and active listening of its stakeholders, who are clearly concerned about the quality of the air they breathe. It is also focused on the joint search for solutions through institutional alliances that speed up the achievement of significant improvements, making port cities healthier and more resilient to the effects of climate change.

Environment and CSR Port-city Technology and innovation