The PAB puts forward a proposal to extend the Port of Palma for discussion and consensus.
25/03/2014This morning, the Chairman of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), Alberto Pons, presented a preview of the Infrastructure Master Plan for the Port of Palma, for discussion and consensus. After informing both the State-owned Ports Body and the Balearic Islands Regional Government of its plans, the APB aims to start a round of contacts with government authorities and other social stakeholders to discuss and reach an agreement on the type of port the capital of the Balearic Islands needs. The draft of the Infrastructure Master Plan for the Port of Palma proposes a 340,000 square-metre extension based on reclaiming land from the sea, a new 3,200 metre-long breakwater, and nearly 2,000 additional metres of berthing for ships. The most salient points of the plan include the creation of a new outer dock to house a mixed terminal for passengers and conventional cargo, a 140,000 square-metre area for ship maintenance and repairs, the creation of new berths for recreational vessels up to 100 metres long, and making the commercial docks an integral area of the city. The estimated cost of this plan is in the region of €550 million. This initiative to extend the Port of Palma was outlined by Alberto Pons today at the 9th Radio Mallorca Forum, organised by Cadena Ser, at the Castillo Hotel Son Vida de Palma. During the forum, Pons also reviewed the APB’s role in managing public ports in the Balearic Islands.
The maritime signalling exhibition at the Portopí lighthouse received nearly 1,700 visitors in 2013
20/03/2014The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) registered nearly 1,700 visitors to its permanent maritime signalling exhibition at the Portopí lighthouse in 2013. This exhibition brings together one of the most comprehensive and best-known collections of used maritime signalling equipment, both in Spain and abroad, dating from the mid-nineteenth 19th century onwards. This APB exhibition is visited annually by numerous social and professional associations, academic organisations, schools, and the general public who may view, by prior appointment, highly-valuable maritime signalling equipment used on the Balearic Islands in the past. This equipment has been recovered and preserved for future generations. Appointments to visit the exhibition can be made for Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings by calling (00 34) 971 228 487, or by emailing fardeportopi@portsdebalears.com. The exhibition can also be visited online at See page Tenth anniversary May 2014 marks the tenth anniversary of this cultural space, housed within the Portopí lighthouse (Port of Palma), which is the third-oldest working lighthouse in the world. In the 1980s, in the light of the significant changes taking place in maritime signalling on the Balearic Islands, and the even more revolutionary advances yet to come in the short-term, the then director of the Port of Palma, Rafael Soler Gayá, decided to recover and preserve all the equipment that had been withdrawn from the coastal lighting service. When some of the equipment had been restored by maritime signalling mechanics, the APB decided to place it on display in some of the empty rooms at the Portopí lighthouse. In 1998, following the retirement of the Portopí lighthouse keeper, Pere Bonet, his former living quarters became a part of what would eventually become the exhibition. In 2004, it was decided that the permanent exhibition would be more formal, in concept, as it was given a more informative focus. The exhibition continues to see newly restored material being added on a constant basis.
The Balearic Islands attends the Miami international cruise fair as a leading destination
10/03/2014The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) heads the Balearic expedition to Cruise Shipping Miami, the leading international cruise shipping trade show, held in the North American city from 10th to 13th March. The Balearic Islands visits Miami as Spain’s second most important cruise destination. It also ranks fourth in the Mediterranean, and twelfth in the world. The APB, and a large number of shipping agents from the islands, will also be joined by the Balearic Islands Government, represented by the Balearic Islands Tourism Agency (ATB) and the Directorate-General of Ports and Airports, and the town councils of Mahon and Alcudia. The APB has one of the most important stands within the State-owned Ports Body exhibition area at the show. At Cruise Shipping Miami, the APB’s aim is to continue to boost and market its ports for the 2015-2016 cruise season. “In Miami, our objective is to promote Mahon, Ibiza, and Alcudia as new destinations, and consolidate the Port of Palma, so that cruise ships continue to call at the port as they do now”, pointed out the APB Chairman, Alberto Pons. In 2013, over 1.5 million cruise passengers visited the APB’s ports on 699 calls, which represents an 11% rise over 2012. In terms of individual ports, the Port of Palma was visited by over 1.2 million passengers, which represented a 27% increase compared to the previous season. However, it was the Port of Mahon, with a 78% increase and almost 96,000 visitors, which accounted for the largest rise in cruise traffic. The Balearic Islands’ ports expect to welcome around 1.6 million cruise passengers on over 700 calls in 2014.
The APB approves the terms and conditions for the provision of passenger services at the Balearic Islands’ public-interest ports
07/03/2014Yesterday afternoon, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands’ (APB) Board of Directors approved the terms and conditions for the provision of passenger services at the five ports it manages, Palma, Alcudia, Mahon, Ibiza, and La Savina. This marks the end of the process that began with the entry into force of Spanish Law 48/2003, of 26th November, on the economic regulations for and supply of services by public-interest ports, in which this service was envisaged for the first time, and which subsequent amendments to this Law also maintained. To comply with legislation, the APB initiated the administrative procedure for the terms and conditions of this service, taking into account, and aiming to reach a consensus with, the sectors involved. After the approval of the terms and conditions yesterday, any company that meets the stipulated requirements may ask to provide passenger services in competition with the current licence holders. These services include baggage check-in and reclaim, the use of scanners, operating passenger boarding bridges, and boarding for passengers with reduced mobility. The introduction of these terms and conditions regulates a service which is of strategic importance to the APB and to the region, defining and introducing guidelines that measure the quality of the service provided. Accordingly, the quality, safety, security, transparency, and competitiveness of our ports are all enhanced, meeting the demands made by cruise companies for these services. The extra cost involved in improving the quality of this service will be met by the APB, which will introduce a 30% rebate on the passenger charge in the Port Authority’s Business Plan to offset the increase. This measure makes our ports more competitive as it increases service quality without putting up the cost of vessel calls. The forecasts for 2014 estimate that the APB’s earnings will decrease by around €8 million as a result of the reduction in this and other charges.
The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands launches web site about the dredging work at the Port of Maó
07/03/2014Today, on www.portsdebalears.com, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) published the link to the web site created specifically to monitor the dredging work at the Port of Maó. This web is part of its transparency policy established at the beginning of this project, a project which is of vital importance for the island of Minorca’s trading activities. On this web, visitors can follow the schedule and progress of the major aspects of the dredging work, the Environmental Watch Plan reports - supervised by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) -, and the geographical position of the vessels in charge of transporting the dredged material to the authorised discharge point. In addition, it also features the project’s preliminary report, official information about the tender awarded to carry out the work, a summary of the work schedule, and the improvements included to facilitate environmental and archaeological management, oceanographic and meteorological data provided by the State-owned Ports Body, interesting links, and other miscellaneous documents which will be made available and updated as the work progresses. The start of the dredging work has received favourable reports from all the organisations involved in the process, in compliance with current legislation, including the approval of the IEO, through its active participation in monitoring the Environmental Watch Plan. Dredger arrival Two dredgers will be taking part in the project at the Port of Maó. The dipper dredger Von Rocks, will deposit the mud brought up from the seabed onto two hoppers pulled by the tug boat Napia, which will then transfer the mud to the discharge point, and the Neptun Khan, a motor hopper which is currently located to the south of the island of Ibiza, and is being transported by the tug boat, Nervio. The Neptun Khan will be the first dredger to arrive at the Port of Maó. It is scheduled to arrive on Sunday 9th March. On the following day, a metallic mesh will be fitted on board to carry out the archaeological sorting tasks. Immediately afterwards, anti-turbidity barriers will be installed to protect the mussel rafts located near the dredging areas. Then, dredging will start at the quayside on the Levante and Poniente passenger quays.
The Port of Ibiza plans a new seafront which will integrate the port with the city
01/03/2014Today, via its website, www.portsdebalears.com, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has announced the project to redesign the Port of Ibiza’s seafront. The objective of the plan, which aims to achieve seamless integration between the port and the city, is to create a square, a bike lane, remove physical barriers between both areas, and restrict vehicle access in the area. In this new urban space, designed for the Ibiza Marina, and agreed by consensus with the Ibiza Town Council, car parks have been removed, only leaving parking spaces that are strictly necessary for cruise passenger services, and marina users. Road access will be restricted to public transport, emergency-service vehicles and supply vehicles. The project envisages the use of high quality, long-lasting construction elements, such as street furniture, pergolas, and other building materials, which are similar to those currently in use in the town of Ibiza, and have been proposed by the Town Council. Building work is scheduled to start on 15th September 2014, and finish in May 2015. The tender has been set at €8 million. Square at Es Martell The APB plans to demolish the current building, at Es Martell, which was the former passenger terminal but is now in disuse. This will enable a pedestrian square with a surface area of almost 5,000m2 to be created. The site will be used to build a new 600 m2 single-storey construction, made up of a 400m2 building and a 200m2 covered area, in which premises to provide marina services, such as storerooms, changing rooms, and offices, will be located, alongside a 130m2 facility set aside for public uses, such as a tourist information office, and toilets, amongst others.
The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands aims to start dredging work at the Port of Maó next Monday
26/02/2014Today, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) informed the Maó port community that dredging work at the Port of Maó is scheduled to start on 3rd March. In an e-mail sent to the main port operators, the APB Chairman, Alberto Pons, explained that, in his view, the dredging work “is a very important project for the island in terms of traffic, services, and safety”. According to Pons, “This is a major step forward in increasing the safety of vessel manoeuvres, and in enabling the Port of Maó to cater for cruise ships and larger vessels, in the near future, thus increasing the number of passengers, and by extension, providing more services. The Chairman ended his message to the Maó port community on a positive note, expressing his wish that “by working together, I hope we can contribute to the creation of a new safe port area of which we can all be proud”.
La APB premiada con el Premio Especial Cruises News al Notable Crecimiento de Pasajeros
21/02/2014La Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares (APB) recibió ayer el Premio Especial Cruises News al Notable Crecimiento de Pasajeros que otorgó Cruises News Media Group, en el transcurso del acto de entrega de los Premios Excellence, que organizó ayer en el Museo de Arte Moderno y Contemporáneo de es Baluart en Palma de Mallorca esta prestigiosa consultora de comunicación y marketing especializada la industria mundial de cruceros. La distinción fue recogida por la responsable comercial, Xisca Leal, y el responsable de operaciones portuarias de la APB, Samuel Fernández, de manos de Cristina López de Cruises News Media Group.Palma fue ayer el escenario del Balearic Cruise Day con la celebración de la II edición del Baleares Cruise Forum y la ceremonia de la VII edición de los Premios Excellence de cruceros, todo ello organizado por Cruises News Media Group y promovido por la APB, el Govern de les Illes Balears, el Ayuntamiento de Palma y con la colaboración del Ayuntamiento de Eivissa, el Ayuntamiento de Alcúdia, el Ayuntamiento de Maó-Mahón, Transcoma Baleares, Air Europa, Air Berlín, Meliá Hoteles y la Cámara de Comercio de Mallorca.
Palma celebrates the Balearic Cruise Day
19/02/2014Tomorrow, Palma de Majorca will be celebrating the Balearic Cruise Day, which consists of the 2nd Balearic Island Cruise Forum and the prize-giving ceremony for the 7th Cruise Excellence Awards, both organised by Cruises News Media Group, a communication and marketing consultancy firm specialised in the world cruise industry, and the organiser of the Madrid International Cruise Summit, sponsored by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB). The APB has committed heavily to promoting cruises in its ports and cities through the Balearic Cruise Day, an event which will bring many of the key players in the Spanish and European cruise industries together in the city of Palma on 20th February. Following the success of the first Balearic Islands Cruise Forum, held on 9th February 2012, the second forum aims to analyse the progress behind the steady increase in the number of calls and passengers in Balearic Island ports, and prepare for a future which looks very bright. Over 1.5 million passengers and 699 cruise ships visited the APB’s ports in 2013, thus consolidating the islands as the second Spanish destination in terms of visiting cruise passenger figures. The Balearic Islands Cruise Forum, which is to be held tomorrow at the Majorca Chamber of Commerce, has been promoted by the Balearic Islands Government, the Palma City Council, and the APB, with the cooperation of the Ibiza Town Council, the Alcudia Town Council, the Mahon Town Council, Transcoma Baleares, Air Europa, Air Berlín, Meliá Hoteles and the Majorca Chamber of Commerce. Participants in the forum include Alfredo Serrano, Director of the recently created CLIA Spain Luis de Carvalho, an expert consultant in the cruise industry the islands’ main tour operators, and representatives of the shipping companies Aida, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises and Thomson Cruises. Excellence Awards Up until now, the Cruise Excellence Awards had been held in Barcelona and Malaga, yet the APB’s promotion strategy has succeeded in bringing them to Palma. The prize-giving ceremony, whose main sponsor is the APB, will be held tomorrow evening at the Es Baluard Museum. Other event sponsors include Logitravel, BC Tours & Shipping, the Palma City Council, Alas Marinas, Delivery Warehouse, Avanza Grupo, Viajes Kontiki and Cruises in the Atlantic Islands. The Cruise Excellence Awards are given to shipping companies, ports and destinations in different categories, and are the result of a macro survey answered by cruise passengers, making the awards even more special, as they are based on the assessments of real holidaymakers. For further information, go to: www.cruisesnews.es/BalearesCF www.premiosexcellence.com informacion@cruisesnews.es
In 2015, the Port of Palma is scheduled to welcome 139,000 passengers on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, generating an economic impact of over €8 million for the city
17/02/2014Next year, the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, will be calling at Palma. The ship, which is 361 metres long, can carry a maximum total of 6,318 passengers. In 2015, the Oasis-class vessel will be making a total of 22 calls at the Port of Palma. It will be the first time the ship visits Europe as, up until now, it has only been used on Caribbean routes, with Fort Lauderdale (Miami) as its home port. According to the APB Chairman, Alberto Pons, “We are delighted that Palma has been chosen as a port of call for the world’s largest cruise ship as this endorses the investment and promotion efforts made by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands”. In a joint press conference, which was also attended by Mateo Isern, the Mayor of Palma de Majorca, and Belén Wangüemert, Royal Caribbean’s General Manager for Spain and France, Pons highlighted the huge impact that the arrival of a ship of this kind has on the tourism industry and on cruise-based businesses. Belén Wangüemert pointed out that the 139,000 passengers that are set to call at the Port of Palma will spend over €8 million in the city, whilst the ship’s crew will spend another €500,000. Royal Caribbean’s General Manager for Spain stated the Allure of the Seas stands out from other ships not only because of its size (the equivalent of three football pitches), but also because of its innovative features, and the wide range of activities and facilities it includes, such as a park with over 12,000 plants, an open-air aquatheatre, and a beach-pool. A reference point in the Mediterranean In the press conference, Mateo Isern, the Mayor of Palma de Majorca, pointed out that “thanks to the Port of Palma’s infrastructure, and to the changes the city has undergone, Palma has become a highly attractive destination for cruise tourism, and is now a reference point in the Mediterranean, a fact which is borne out by Royal Caribbean´s strategic decision to choose our city”. Isern added that “Palma has it all. It offers a wide range of different, high-quality activities and facilities that are available all year round, and this is what makes it special”. The Allure of the Seas is scheduled to arrive in Palma in May 2015, and will call at the port until mid-October. During this time, 22 seven-night cruises are scheduled from Barcelona, taking in Marseilles, La Spezia (Florence and Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome), and Naples, as well as Palma de Majorca.
The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands exhibits the entries submitted to the 4th Port and Lighthouse Painting and Photography Competition
17/02/2014From 21st February to 8th March, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) will be exhibiting the entries submitted to the 4th Painting and Photography Competition on the Islands’ public-interest ports and lighthouses, at the Carme Cloister in Mahon. Over 300 entries from all the islands were submitted to the competition in October 2013. These entries were divided into three categories: watercolour, other painting techniques and photography. Around one hundred of these works were shortlisted for an exhibition in Palma de Majorca, which was visited by over 12,000 people during the Christmas period. Some of these works were also recently shown to the public at the Coves Blanques lighthouse exhibition hall in Sant Antoni de Portmany, on the island of Ibiza. The 12 winning entries, and the competition entries presented in Mahon, will now be exhibited at the Carme Cloister. One of the winning entries, entitled Cap de Favàritx, features a Minorcan landscape, painted by Diana Bustamente, the winner of the other painting technique category. The exhibition runs from 21st February to 8th March, at the Carme Cloister exhibition hall in Mahon. It is open from 10.00-13.00 and 18.00-21.00, from Tuesday to Friday, and from 10.00-13.00, on Saturday. Art in ports This is the fourth consecutive year that the APB has sponsored this competition on Balearic Island lighthouses and the public-interest ports of Palma, Alcudia, Mahon, Ibiza and La Savina. The aim of the competition is to reflect general interest in these everyday, yet unique, places through art.
