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The APB puts the contract for the port bus in the port of Ibiza out to public tender for a period of 15 years

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) passed a resolution, in its last meeting held yesterday in Palma, to approve the specifications and clauses that will govern the public tender for the management, under concession, of the port bus in the port of Ibiza. The duration of this concession contract will be fifteen years.

The service, which has been provided since 2023 under temporary one-year authorisations, is now entering a new phase that will allow for its long-term consolidation and the development of improvements in both operational and environmental sustainability. The tender aims to guarantee a more efficient, accessible service with a lower environmental impact, in line with the decarbonisation and sustainable mobility strategy promoted by the APB.

The port bus service offers a priority maritime connection between the pontoon attached to the Botafoc Commercial Docks and the Contramuelle Norte, facilitating the transfer of passengers from the docking points to the city centre. The minimum frequency of the service during cruise calls will be 20 minutes, and the timetable shall be designed to match the ships' arrival and departure times. In addition, bidders may tender for other lines within port waters zone 1 using the embarkation and disembarkation points set out in the tender documents.

The tender requires the successful bidder to have at least three vessels, with a total capacity of at least 150 passengers, and to have engines that comply with IMO Tier III international emissions standards. The use of clean technologies and proposals that reinforce the port's environmental commitment will be considered positively.

In addition, the concession holder must maintain the facilities, manage waste, ensure accessibility and have modern ticketing and ticket control systems. The service will include physical customer service points and ticket offices, as well as digital solutions for purchase and access.

The annual occupancy fee has been set at almost €8,000, while the activity rate is set at 4% of turnover.

With this competition, the APB seeks to consolidate an internal maritime transport model that reduces land traffic, improves the user experience and contributes to the port system's sustainability objectives.

OCIBAR will manage the marine sports area of the Botafoc in the port of Ibiza

The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), at a meeting held yesterday afternoon in the port of Palma, passed a resolution to award the company OCIBAR S.A. the management, under administrative authorisation, of the moorings, the service station, the dry dock area and the shopping premises located in the Botafoc area, in the port of Ibiza.

The management period granted shall be for an initial period of two years, extendable for a maximum of three years. At the moment, the Special Plan for the Port is at an advanced stage of processing, which envisages, until it is approved, a call for tenders for a long-term concession - between 20 and 30 years - which would allow the significant investments necessary for the complete renovation of the facilities to be undertaken.

This tender is intended to guarantee the provision of quality services in the port area during the transitional period, while the new planning process is being finalised. The plot of land under management covers a total of 97,000 m², of which 43,000 m² are land area, with various buildings for commercial uses, a service station for pleasure boats, and an area for mooring and repairing boats. This is in addition to more than 54,000 m² of water surface area, with 432 mooring places distributed over five pontoons.

The award envisages an annual occupancy fee of €2,215,013.76 and a business tax of 4% on the turnover generated by the operation of the port services. In addition, OCIBAR S.A. has offered a fee improvement of €8,850,000 per year.

With this resolution, the APB ensures the continuity and improvement in the management of one of the most important sites of the port of Ibiza, while waiting for the new Special Plan to allow the area to be comprehensively developed in the long term.

The port of Mahón steps up efforts to promote water conservation

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has revived and intensified its awareness campaign “Every drop counts” in the port of Mahón this summer, aimed at promoting water conservation among recreational boat users.

This move is part of the APB's commitment to the United Nations Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. It also responds to the growing need to safeguard water resources, especially in places like ports, where activity increases significantly during the summer months.

The campaign targets both mooring permit holders, whether directly or indirectly managed, and visiting boat users who drop into the harbour of Mahón during the summer season.

Key initiatives include the distribution of hose nozzles with automatic shut-off to promote more efficient consumption, as well as information leaflets with the campaign's core message. This material has been handed over to the six marinas in the area: Amarres Poniente, Club Marítimo Mahón, Club Náutico Villacarlos, Marina Menorca, Marina Port Mahon and Mô Llevant.

The campaign will also be rolled out in the Varadero Mô industrial area and at various official offices located in the port, such as the Harbour Master's Office, the Coastal Authority, the Island Council's Tourist Office and the APB's own offices.

The message has been visually reinforced with 30 banners placed on the busiest quays on the south side of the port, reminding both sailors and pedestrians in Mahón and Es Castell that every drop counts.

With this initiative, the APB rekindles its commitment to the environment and invites all port users to actively participate in the conservation of such an essential resource as water.

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Lighthouses of the Balearic Islands

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Economic and social impact

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Navigation aids

Interesting links

Annual Report

This publication details the APB’s financial situation, the technical characteristics of its public ports and provides an overview of the institution’s activities.

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Link to the APB’s e-office which features the official notice boards on public information, human resources, public port land, and auctions, as well as other notices.

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You have entered the Website of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands. This is a virtual space that puts you within reach of all the services provided by the ports of general interest, which are: Alcudia, Ibiza, Mahon, Palma and La Savina...