Noticias APB | Ports de Balears

The ports managed by APB record 15.4 million tonnes of freight in 2017

06/02/2018

The freight traffic statistics for the ports of general interest in the Balearic Islands indicate that 15.4 million tonnes passed through the 5 ports managed by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) in 2017. All of the ports have experienced an increase in traffic volume except for Mahon, which was down 3% on 2016. The ports of Alcudia and La Savina have seen the biggest increase in traffic, up 17% and 7%, respectively. The ports of Palma and Ibiza have also seen an increase, up 4% and 3%, respectively. The figures reported relating to the general goods traffic (referring to consumer goods), indicate that 12.2 million tonnes passed through the 5 ports of general interest in the Balearic Islands in 2017, up 6% on 2016. Alcudia increased by 18%, La Savina 8%, Ibiza 6% and Palma 5%. Mahon is once again the only port that did not see any growth, showing a 9% reduction in its traffic volume with regard to 2016. Referring to solid bulk cargo only (coal, grain, salt and construction materials, etc.), the records indicate that Mahon and Alcudia increased their traffic volume by 60% and 17%, respectively, while Palma, Ibiza and La Savina saw a 30%, 26% and 16%, respectively, reduction in these materials in comparison with the previous financial year. As regards liquid bulk cargo (fuel), the records indicate an increase in traffic volume at the ports of Alcudia (11%), Mahon (9%) and Palma (1%), and a 6% fall at the Port of Ibiza. Lastly, in 2017, the number of passengers at the ports managed by the APB was 8.2 million, up 6% on the figure registered in the previous financial year. Of those passengers, 2.1 million were on cruise ships, up 9% on 2016. All of the ports saw an increase in this area. The Port of Mahon saw the biggest increase (26%), corresponding to a 60% increase in the arrival of cruise passengers in 2017, followed by Alcudia (23%), Ibiza (6%) -which also saw a significant increase of 35% in cruise passengers-, Palma (5%) and La Savina (3%). Further statistical information

The APB set to adapt the Port of El Molinar, retaining its current dimensions and facilitating its integration into the city

02/02/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) will update the El Molinar facilities at the Port of Palma whilst preserving its current dimensions, with the same water surface area and the same breakwater. Likewise, it is expected that the number of mooring points and type of existing boats will remain the same. This will help prevent the intensity of port use from rising, and therefore the accessibility and mobility problems that could otherwise be caused in the neighbourhood. The new El Molinar port project was revealed to the public yesterday during the conference held at the Palau de Congressos de Palma under the slogan "The future of sailing clubs in the Balearic Islands. The continuity of concessions at Ports of General Interest". According to the APB's head of infrastructure, Antoni Ginard, the main objectives of the new project include incorporating the El Molinar port as a transit area, offering citizens new landscape perspectives by constructing rock facing that will function as an observation point, and taking one step further towards the APB strategy by integrating ports in cities and engaging citizens in various leisure possibilities that the ports can offer. Another important strand of this project focuses on investment in maritime security infrastructure, with low or practically zero environmental impact and at a reasonable financial cost, providing the port with the security constantly sought by the port body in all of its actions. Lastly, this reform project covers the social element of this port, promoting the practice of and training in water sports activities such as sailing, which should remain one of the main assets of any sailing club. The project was developed by the team comprising MCVALNERA and Junquera Arquitectos, with internationally renowned engineers and architects as members. The port infrastructure has an estimated investment budget of three million euros, which will be covered by the APB. Following its input, the APB intends for a social sailing club to take over the management of the mooring points.

69% of mooring request renewals at the ports of general interest are processed electronically

31/01/2018

At the close of the January renewal period, it can be seen that 68.7 per cent of mooring requests directly managed by the ports of Palma, Alcudia, Mahon and Ibiza were made through the website of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB). It is a symptom of the good health of this platform and the predisposition of users to use innovative and more operational systems such as this tool that makes the port authority available to citizens. In total, 801 requests were renewed through the website. The port that carried out most electronic renewals was Alcudia (85%), followed by that of Palma (72%) and Mahon (48%). At the port of Ibiza, no online renewals were made, with all of them being processed in person. Another important fact is the general reduction in waiting lists. In Palma, it has decreased by 5.5% with 808 requests this January compared to the 855 from last year and in Alcudia, it has decreased by 6.25% with 75 requests compared to 80 in January 2017. In Mahon, it has decreased by 20.7% with 115 requests on the list this January and by 15.3% in Ibiza with 11 requests. One of the reasons for these reductions is the fact that mooring requests that are not in line with the current requirements which stipulate, among other requirements, that vessels must be shorter than 8 metres in length, have been removed from the waiting lists. The mooring renewal period in the ports of general interest opens twice a year (from 1 to 15 January and from 1 to 15 July). As usual, and with the aim of promoting transparency in public bodies, the APB has published the updated lists on its website. You can see this information by clicking here.

The APB has put out to tender the management of mooring points in the d’en Reynés boatyard at the Port of Mahon

31/01/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Island (APB) has put out to public tender the management of mooring points in the area of the d’en Reynés boatyard in the Levante dock at the Port of Mahon. The aim of this tender is to grant temporary authorisation to manage a total water surface area of 10,900 square metres and 224 metres of dock line. The APB will select the most advantageous solution, granting administrative approval to the bidder to manage this surface area for a one-year period, where the Mahon Maritime Club currently manages 48 mooring points measuring between 8 and 30 metres in length. The contract will entail the occupancy permit for mooring recreational boats, as well as their management, water supply, power supply, telephony and data retransmission, rubbish and waste collection, and any other services to be proposed by the bidder. More information on the Public Domain bulletin board on the APB website.

The APB publicly presents the future of sailing clubs at Ports of General Interest on the Balearic Islands

25/01/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) will reveal the current situation and foreseeable future of the sailing clubs located at the ports of general interest on the islands by organising a conference open to the public. The event, under the slogan "The future of sailing clubs in the Balearic Islands. The continuity of concessions at Ports of General Interest", will welcome speakers who will assess the legal framework under which social sailing falls within the state port model and present proposals for improvements to the El Molinar facilities at the Port of Palma. For the president of the APB, Joan Gual de Torrella, public access to social sailing must be essential in a community that is so closely linked to the sea such as the Balearic Islands. In this regard, the president of the APB believes that "the clubs play a key role in the maritime sector, which is an important driver in the generation of wealth. And as a reward for this social endeavour is the reason for which its continuity at our ports is justified", says Gual. On 1 February at 19:30 in the Palau de Congressos de Palma, Joan Gual de Torrella will be joined by the head of the Legal Department of State Ports, José Antonio Morillo-Velarde del Peso, who will discuss the current legal framework of the term extensions of sailing clubs in Spain. In addition, consultant Gabriel Sandoval Sarrias will share his vision of how the new management model of marinas facilitates the integration between ports and cities. Representing the APB, its head of Port Operation, Armando Parada González, will go over the current situation and immediate future of sailing clubs operating in the public port domain of the Balearic Islands. Lastly, the head of infrastructure, Antonio Ginard López, will unveil the future port of El Molinar, which combines improvements in functionality with greater port-city integration.

The APB starts work on the direct management berths at Portitxol

23/01/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has started the replacement and improvement works on the foundations of the dock pontoons. The project entails the replacement of six pontoons that were in a bad condition and could have collapsed, for new reinforced-concrete slabs, specifically designed for current environmental conditions. The works, which are underway on two of the pontoons, – F and G– involve demolishing the current slabs and replacing them with new reinforced-concrete ones. Other berth elements will be adapted and water and electricity installations will be installed. The works will be completed with the placement of anchorage equipment. Owners will have their boats temporarily moved to another berth allocated by the APB during the period of time set for each improvement. As the dock is gradually renovated, the APB will reorganise the public berths at Portitxol, given that pontoons B, C, D and E also need to be taken apart and rebuilt. The works started in January and will continue until September. The aim of the APB is to give users of these berths a renovated and up-to-date infrastructure for their boats, improving the quality of the service provided by the port authority. The project, with an investment of 600,000 euros and a timeframe of eight and a half months, was awarded to the company Route Pont, S.L., for 523,763.00 euros.

The APB carries out marine pollution containment drill at the Port of La Savina

19/01/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has today carried out a drill on the containment of marine pollution in the zone 1 sheltered waters at the Port of La Savina. The exercise consisted of simulating a hypothetical oil spill from a tanker at the commercial quay, where the petrol station at this port is located. In order to contain this spill, a 150-metre barrier against marine pollution was placed, which the APB expressly purchased for this port. Taking part in the drill—besides the APB—were the Firefighters of Formentera Island Council and also the managers of Marina Formentera, a company that has an agreement with the port authority stating that, in the event of any incident at this port, they will intervene with a vessel and the necessary staff to tackle it. Also participating in the exercise were the Port Police of the Port of Ibiza, along with other external clean-up companies who came along as observers. This drill forms part of the training exercises of the Formentera Firefighters set out in the agreement signed between the APB and Formentera Island Council with regards to training the firefighters to act in cases of emergency, as well as ensuring they have the necessary equipment to keep Formentera residents and visitors safe. Therefore, the APB has now put out a tender to acquire, in addition to different absorbent materials,150 metres of absorbent barrier and a portable pool to place the contaminated material at each of the 5 ports of interest that it manages. A step forward in the public body's clear commitment to safety and prevention.

Refurbishment works complete on the Torreón de Paraires in the Port of Palma

10/01/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has completed the improvement and refurbishment works on the Torreón de Paraires tower in the Port of Palma. The project consisted of rebuilding the internal and external structure of the Paraires turret, which was in a poor condition, in order to recover a heritage asset in the Port of Palma. The works, which were completed in seven months, consisted of, among other things, demolishing the wall blocking the entrance, cleaning and clearing out the inside of the tower, as well as building the frames and pre-frames of the existing wooden windows and chipping off the plaster on the inner walls until reaching the original base in order to then line it. The project also included restoration and stonework, locksmithing, lining work and waterproofing, as well as adding a water collector to prevent flooding. The investment amounted to 101,000 euros and the company that secured the contract was Llabrés Feliu. This project provided work for an average of 4 people for 6 months. This tower was originally used by a house built nearby, which no longer exists, to access the sea. The users reached the tower via a walkway and used it to reach the rocks where there was a small quay, where they could bathe in the water and moor small boats. The APB preserves this building due to its interesting and iconic nature.

The APB will allocate 2 million euros for the maintenance of lighthouses, beacons and buoys of all Balearic Islands

04/01/2018

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has put to tender a two-year contract that can be extended for another two years for the maintenance of the lighthouses, beacons and buoys it manages on the Balearic Islands. The invitation to tender was published in the Official State Gazette on 16 December 2017 and the deadline for proposals is fixed for 2 February 2018 at 14:00. This contract for the maintenance of civil works is designed for the upkeep of all sailing assistance elements: lighthouses, buildings, coastal and port beacons, and buoys around the islands belonging to the APB. The aim is to guarantee the strong presence, visibility and proper functioning of these valuable elements, improving potential shortcomings and preventing their deterioration. The tendering process of the contract, which is valued at €1,911,682.69, has been rolled out over 3 lots consisting of: Mallorca, Cabrera and Dragonera (Lot 1), Ibiza and Formentera (Lot 2) and Menorca (Lot 3). The awarded company will be responsible for paving and coating floors, locksmith services and metal structural work, painting, maintaining and repairing equipment and floating platforms, as well as garden and park maintenance services.

The concession extension for the management of mooring points on the Pantalán de la Cuarentena dock at the Port of Palma has been turned down

22/12/2017

Yesterday, in a meeting held at its Palma office, the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) rejected the term extension and the additional prolongation requested regarding the administrative concession of public port domain for the "management of recreational boat mooring points at the Pantalán de la Cuarentena dock at the Port of Palma". The holder of the concession is Tanit Ibiza Port, S.A. The company had requested a term extension of 3 years and 6 months under the provisions established in the Tenth Transitional Provision of the consolidated text of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy, and an additional prolongation of 6 years and 3 months requested under Article 82.2.b) of said text. Both requests were turned down as the Board of Directors of the Port Authority deemed that there was no justification whatsoever for substituting the current floating dock attached to the main dock on the promenade side for a fixed reinforced-concrete one, as the boats that currently use it have no need for a fixed dock.

Parking at the Port of Palma can now be paid for using mobile phones

20/12/2017

The mobile payment service for the car parks of the APB at the Port of Palma has today come into operation. Users will be able to pay through the application of the payment platform called Telpark, available for smartphones, on which the port area can be found. The launch of this system responds to a petition made by Palma City Council to integrate the port area into the limited parking area of the city, which already uses this new payment method. Users can easily pay using their mobile phones by following a few simple steps. - Install the app - Select the city (geolocation) - Choose the rate, selecting the area - Enter the parking duration - Make the payment Furthermore, the system allows users to receive alerts notifying them when their parking time is about to or has run out. Fines cannot currently be annulled on mobile devices and they need to be processed in the usual way. However, it is envisaged that this process will be available via telematic means in the near future. Furthermore, the agents of the APB who control the regulated car park have tablets and an application that lets them check, through registration plates, that vehicles that have paid through Telpark and that do not have a ticket on the dashboard have paid correctly.

The APB purchases a new 100% electric vehicle for the Port Police at the Port of Palma

20/12/2017

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has recently purchased a new vehicle for the fleet of the Port of Palma. The vehicle is a 100% electric NISSAN E-NV200 EVALIA, which will be used for services relating to the Port Police. This vehicle replaces a Citroen Xsara Picasso, which was in poor condition, and it reflects the Port Authority's commitment to renewable energy and the environment. The APB plans to gradually update its fleet with electric vehicles. When choosing the model, the uniformity of the car with the rest of the APB vehicles was taken into consideration, as well as its adaptability to the requirements of a vehicle used for police purposes, such as the size of the boot for portable signalling, extinguishers, resuscitation equipment, life jackets and other basic tools. The vehicle also includes the corresponding police DGT optical-audible signalling kit. Nissan. It costs €29,586 plus VAT.