The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) is in the process of drawing up its Strategic Plan for the five public ports (Palma, Alcudia, Mahon, Ibiza and la Savina) and maritime signals (34 lighthouses and over 25 beacons) it manages. The Plan has a 5-10 year timeframe and will be included in the State-owned Port System’s Institutional and Strategic Framework planning system.

This Plan addresses the role to be played by the infrastructures which deliver critical services for shipping connections and the supply of the islands. They are also used for significant tourism and socioeconomic operations in the cruise industry and recreational sailing sector, including industrial operations (repair and maintenance), and to a lesser extent fishing.

This Plan’s purpose is to set out future strategies for these ports by reconciling the diverse viewpoints in the society which they serve and should continue to serve. To that end, the APB will take into account all the key socioeconomic, technological, environmental and other factors which may have an impact while always seeking to promote the general interest.

The APB’s intention with the Plan is to improve service quality and efficiency in its ports while maintaining their current self-financing capacity and respecting their valuable environment (both natural and urban) with sufficient foresight to successfully address the challenges of the immediate future.

Public input

Following Stage I of the work carried out in 2018 and 2019, the results and conclusions of the preliminary analysis and assessment were compiled in documents and presented to the main stakeholders on each of the islands. Alongside the numerous interviews and meetings held with the port community, an electronic communication channel was set up and publicised on the website and in social media which has made it possible to report on the progress of the work and welcome input from all stakeholders.

Following the discussion and contributions received, Stage II, in which the Plan has been drawn up, is now nearing completion with the design and deployment of the Strategy of the APB and each of its ports (and maritime signals).

The APB is making the main or more general strategy design and deployment documents publically available so it can hear the whole range of views, responses, suggestions and approaches. It is confident that this consultation will generate fresh discussion and thus further enhance the Plan.

The APB would like to thank you in advance for your comments, remarks and input. Please email them to planestrategico@portsdebalears.com by 9 March 2020 so that they can be considered before the Strategic Plan’s final version is completed.