Noticias APB | Ports de Balears

APB and Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca will collaborate to train nautical sector

22/01/2016

Balearic Islands’ Port Authority (APB) and Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca, will work together for the nautical sector to acquire professional background with some actions included in the Convention signed by presidents of both institutions, Mr. Joan Gual de Torrella and Mr. José Luis Roses. It has to be emphasized that young people nautical professional training’s promotion, internationalization of nautical companies and preparation of future studies to deepen Mallorca’s economical structure and general interest ports’ relevancy, will be included in the Convention, among many others. Collaboration between APB and Chamber of Commerce seeks to encourage Balearic Islands’ nautical development, from both economic and professional point of view, and also seeks to promote Balearic Islands’ as a maritime benchmark on the Mediterranean.

A new fire truck for Maó Port provided by APB to Menorca Island Council

21/01/2016

As from today, Maó’s Port has another fire truck APB president, Mr. Joan Gual de Torrella, granted Mrs. Maite Salord, president of Menorca Insland Council. With this vehicle, APB reinforces Menorca Island Council fire-fighting facilities since both institutions collaborate in terms of fire protection and firefighting services, rescue and civil protection, with the aim to optimize resources within the means available to raise safety standards. It has to be taken into account that landside’s port service area is located in Maó and es Castell municipalities. Maó Port has an Internal Emergency Plan developed by APB where Menorca Island Council Fire Prevention and Extinction Service is considered as intervention group whose main functions are on-shore and vessels’ fire extinguishing, civil protection operations’ intervention, evacuation tasks, rescue operations and taking part in emergency drills, among many others. Current collaboration agreement between APB and Consell de Menorca was signed last 2012 and will run for 15 years.

Increase of cruise ships’ arrival to Ibiza, Maó and Alcudia ports for this 2016

19/01/2016

Ibiza, Maó and Alcudia ports will significantly increase the number of cruise ships’ calls arriving to these destinations as per Balearic Islands’ Port Authority (APB) forecasts. Ibiza is the second largest port of Balearic Islands and the one increasing the number of stopovers in 2016, 28,3% up on the previous year, reaching 154 calls, compared to the 120 reached last year. Passengers also increase 27,7%, expecting the arrival of 252.636 compared to 197.877 passengers last 2015. Maó will also increase the number of calls this year. As per the forecast, will reach 93 calls this 2016 (85 last year), a 9,4% increase. These eight cruises will represent an almost 34,5% increase in the number of passengers. In detail, 79.783 passengers will offload in Menorca (59.332 last 2015). In Mallorca lauds the Alcudia case where a total amount of ten cruise ships will arrive (5 last year). This 100% increase involves up to 415% passengers’ increase reaching 7.032 passengers (1.365 last 2015). A small step backwards Palma port suffers a samll step backwards after its finest season ever (partly as a result of Tunisia cruises’ deviation). Last year, 569 cruises arrived to Palma. Forecast for 2016 is 524 cruises, this is to say, 6,5% less. Number of passengers also decrease 12% (from 1.736.294 to 1.525.000 passengers). With this small step backwards, Palma still surpasses the standard figures of 475 port calls last 2014 and 1.336.000 passengers. The city is consolidated as base port with 166 initial and final port calls forecasted 2016. La Savina port scales decrease (from 10 to 3) although it is remarkable that number of tourists at Formentera port will increase 5,3% (from 1.665 yo 1.754). Balearic Islands will still be one of the main cruise ships’ destinations this 2016, 784 port calls transporting 1.867.000 passengers to the Islands. Theses figures mean an increase of 0.4 % in number of port calls, together with a small step backwards up to 6,5% in number of passengers (789 and 1.996.533 respectively).

Works of Es Martell building (Ibiza Port) will start next Monday

19/01/2016

Works of Es Martell building (Ibiza Port) will begin next Monday, January 25th. This has been confirmed by Mr. Joan Gual de Torrella, President of Balearic Islands’ Port Authority (APB) after a meeting in Palma with Mr. Francisco Casilla, General Manager of Isolux Corsán, the awarded construction company. “It is a large and powerful company despite of cash shortages, small “treasure tensions” this big companies always sort out”, assured Gual. “General Manager of Isolux Corsán has met with us and reassured us regarding the economical situation they are facing. Works will begin next Monday”. Works of this very new building will be done simultaneously with the demolition of the disused and old maritime station, with a volume and design incompatible with the new seafront, willing to integrate both port and the city for the enjoyment of all residents and tourists, being compatible with port uses. This works are added to other works APB is performing by agreement with Vila council, such as a terminal to substitute the current Botafoc canopy, a comfortable terminal for goods and passengers’ traffic to Formentera and the union of different port areas with a promenade. “The aim is to have an image of the whole port in four or five years. it will be really important for Ibiza”, underlined Gual.

Withdraw of non-awarded art works of APB’s competition in Palma and Alcudia has began

15/01/2016

Collect of on-awarded works of APB “6th photographic and painting ports and lighthouses’ competition” in both Palma and Alcudia has began. They must be collected in the same place where they were delivered from 9 to 14 h: Carrer Moll Vell, 5 (Palma) Moll de Pescadors s/n (Port d’Alcudia) Those interested have just time left until February 19th, 2016. Non collected art works will be considered abandoned after reaching the deadline. ID or passport must be submitted together with the art work receipt. Written authorisation is mandatory when the person withdrawing the art work is different from the original depository. More than hundred works took part in this competition divided in three categories: watercolour, other painting techniques and photography.

The original polygonal dome of Punta de l’Avançada de Pollença lighthouse is on exhibition at PortopíPalma,

13/01/2016

Balearic Island’s Port Authority (APB) has refurbished the original polygonal dome of Punta de l’Avançada de Pollença lighthouse (Mallorca) which dates back to 1905 and can be visited from now on maritime signals exhibition, located at Portopi lighthouse (Palma). The Polygonal dome was done by Barbier Benard &amp Turenne (BBT) with 1,80 metres diameter, curved glasses and vertical upstands. It was the first one in Balearic Islands. The polygonal dome was mounted on an eight rolled iron metal plates’ donjon, fully lined inside with mahogany wood. In 1973 and due to the six metres lighthouse’s tower regrowth the polygonal dome was substituted by a 1,75 metres diameter dome done by Racional SA –a Spanish company-, curved glasses and inclined posts, still installed. Punta de l’Avançada lighthouse is located on Pollença bay (Formentor peninsula), a wonderful setting currently integrated in a military area. Projected by Eusebio Estada, was inaugurated on December 15th 1905 Portopí exhibition is opened Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 to 13:30 h. Visits can be arranged thr,

Paving works notice at Camí de s’Escollera (Palma port).

11/01/2016

Balearic Islands’ Port Authority (APB) notifies vehicles’ restrictions on movement at Camí de s’Escollera (Palma Port) due to paving works from 8 am next Wednesday, January 13th until January 15th at 15 pm. During this period of time, access to parking located at Camí de s’Escollera will be closed. As soon as the forecasted works finish, access for vehicles will be provided. Paving works will be done at the parking area and also at the contiguous side street, from STP boatyard and until PINMAR shop

APB and Consell de Formentera will agree an improvement plan for la Savina

15/12/2015

Balearic Islands’ Port Authority and Consell de Formentera will agree an improvement plan for la Savina Port. Joan Gual de Torrella, APB president has announced it after Consejo de Navegación y Puerto of la Savina port meeting, a consultative body where all port agents are and let APB to know first-hand needs and concerns. Jaume Ferrer, president of Consell de Formentera, also joined the meeting. This improvement plan will be conducted by APB with the consensus of involved institutions and could be finished between 2016 and 2017. “We’re posing an improvement for la Savina, together with Consell de Formentera –said Gual– and we are also willing to have an aesthetic harmony. to have a place to have a gentle walk”. La Savina Summer traffic is one of the elements bustling the most to port agents due to Ibiza connection, because there is a very limited space. Million and a half is the figure of passengers connecting both islands. “Traffic has increased and infrastructures’ needs are different”, has explained APB president, who also said next January 2016 will introduce APB proposals in Formentera, to solve it and to adapt maritime traffic to port space. On the other hand, Joan Gual de Torrella has explained that coffee-bar tendering at la Savina maritime station will be awarded next end-January or February and there are some bids. He has also announced that la Savina parking will be ready next June 2016 as per concessionaire’s compromise.

Mr. Antoni Cirerol, former Secretary of the Board of Directors of Palma de Mallorca’s port, has passed away

14/12/2015

Last December 11th, Mr. Antoni Cirerol, first President of Balearic Islands’ Parliament, passed away aged 89. Mr. Cirerol also had an outstanding relation with Puertos de Baleares, because he was Secretary of the Board of Director of Junta del Puerto de Palma, before the constitution of the current Port Authorities. in fact, he was national public servant of special unit of Secretaries of port authority. APB President, Mr. Joan Gual de Torrella, offered his condolences also on behalf of Port Authority workers to his relatives and friends.

Es Martell building will be integrated into Port of Ibiza public square

14/12/2015

Balearic Islands’ Port Authority (APB) and Vila town hall have agreed the refurbishment of Ibiza Port pier thus integrating it into a public square. Mr. Joan Gual de Torrella, president of APB and Mr. Rafael Ruiz, Vila Mayor, have launched the project to the municipality Board of Spokespersons’ with the intention to start integration works as soon as they get consistory’s general agreement. Es Martell refurbishment has been designed by Ibizan architects Calvo y Quesada. As per the architectural project, building will be totally integrated into the square. It is four metres high and a stair with a harrow shape for pedestrians to reach la Marina neighbourhood and Dalt Vila is contained. “It’s like a square at two heights”, Gual said. Vila’s consistory has taken on a commitment to avoid intending it for commercial use. “This build is a square and we gain a new space for the city”, said Ruiz, who has thanked work ambience and the spirit of constructive dialogue of APB President, Mr. Joan Gual de Torrella. “It is not a risk we would like to afford, and the old build could remain in bad conditions”, has add Ruiz. “We think there’s not a major opposition on the part of traders and neighbours and this place could be great for the town hall to enliven port area”. To carry out Es Martell refurbishment, the building of the old maritime station –not currently in use- will be demolished. It will be the start of a second phase of the coastline refurbishment, thus integrating both port and the city

Balearic Islands’ ports will receive €1,6 million from inter-port Compensation Fund

11/12/2015

Balearic Islands’ ports will receive almost EUR 1,6 million from inter-port compensation fund (FCI from its Spanish initials) next 2016, from a total of €37,8 million 28 different Port Authorities will share. Committee for Distribución del Fondo de Compensación Interportuario has informed after the unanimous agreement reached in Madrid yesterday. APB provides EUR 748.000 to Compensation Fund currently and received EUR 1.549.000 thus producing a net profit of €801.000 for Balearic Islands. One of the variants that has been taken into account for allocations’ distribution is insularity, that’s why APB if one of the greatest beneficiaries, together with Canary Islands’ Port Authority, also compensated as per being the outermost autonomous community. Concepts like maintenance of the identified aids to navigation, actions with respect to security, planning, coordination, Port traffic control, periodic and extraordinary repairs, unforeseen circumstances, non-commercial invests and recovery plans are proposals kept in mind. Compensation Fund is seen as an instrument to reorganise existing resources of the State port system, the purpose of which is to achieve system’s self-financing and also to potentiate a loyal competence between Spanish ports. Its application has allowed port enclosures such as Ceuta and Melilla, Balearic and Canary Islands, or those which have to face periodic or extraordinary repairs, can keen their activity and infrastructures.

Prize-winners of 6th APB painting and photography contest

03/12/2015

Winners and honorific mentions of 6th Painting and Photography of Palma, Alcudia, Mahón, Ibiza and La Savina ports and lighthouses’ contest, organised by APB and Fine Arts Circle of Palma, have been chosen. Over a hundred works have been submitted, divided in three categories: watercolour, other painting techniques and photography. 70 works have been chosen to be exhibited from December 4th to January 8th at Centre d’Història I Cultura Militar, Sant Miquel street (Palma). This exhibition will perambulate the other Islands. Winners of this 6th APB contest have been: Watercolour: FISRT PRIZE: “Varats al far de la Riba” Anieszka Midera. EUR 2.500. SECOND PRIZE: “Far des Moscarter-Ibiza” Josep Plaja López. EUR 1.250. THIRD PRIZE: “Desembarcament a La Savina” Xavier G. Puiggrós. EUR 625 Honorific mention: “El Clipper stad Amsterdam en el Port d’Eivissa”. José Francisco Rams Lluch. Other painting techniques: FIRST PRIZE: “Far de la Creu Sóller” Josep Plaja López. EUR 2.500 SECOND PRIZE: “Reflexes daurats al Portitxol” Josep Suari Casabella. EUR 1.250 THIRD PRIZE: “Grilletes barco de salvamento marítimo” Agnies Midera. EUR 625 Honorific mention: “Faro de Penjats-Ibiza” Miguel Ángel Guerreiro Photography: FISRT PRIZE: “Turris Faraone” Miguel Morey Colomina. EUR 1.000 SECOND PRIZE: “Sa farola a les vuit” Lucas Toledo. EUR 500 THIRD PRIZE: “Luces que orientan” Miguel Ángel López Vico. EUR 375 Honorific Mention: “Resplandor en la tempestad” Xavier Durán I Herrera. APB sponsors this contest dedicated to Balearic Islands’ lighthouses and general interest ports of Palma, Alcudia, Mahón, Ibiza and la Savina for the sixth consecutive year to contribute to a better knowledge trough plastic arts.