APB STAGES EVENTS TO COMMEMORATE THE WORLD MARINE AIDS TO NAVIGATION DAY WITH ACTIVITIES ORGANISED IN ALL THE BALEARIC ISLES

APB STAGES EVENTS TO COMMEMORATE THE WORLD MARINE AIDS TO NAVIGATION DAY WITH ACTIVITIES ORGANISED IN ALL THE BALEARIC ISLES

Palma

18/06/2019

The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) has set the 1st July each year as the World Marine Aids to Navigation Day.  In this first edition, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) and Puertos del Estado [Spanish State Ports Authority], with the collaboration of the IALA, have organised a series of events in Palma.

The central events of this first edition of the World Marine Aids to Navigation Day will take place in Palma, structured in two sessions - one technical and one institutional. The organisers have confirmed the attendance of Francis Zachariae, General Secretary of the IALA, under the slogan “Successful Voyages, Sustainable Planet”, which will discuss present and future challenges for navigational aids to improve safety in maritime traffic within an increasingly digital and changing world in ways that also contribute to the sustainability of the marine environment. Furthermore, those attending the technical conference will see the Portopí lighthouse come into service at midday, with the presence of different authorities.

As part of a nationwide coordinated action, a large number of lighthouses and sirens will also be turned on across Spain between 12h00 and 12h30 on Monday, 1st July.

Events organised by the APB

Moreover, each of the 28 port authorities in the geographical area where they are responsible for navigation aids will stage different activities aimed at demonstrating the role of this service to the general public.

In addition to turning on the 34 lighthouses that it runs between 12h00 and 12h30, the APB has programmed the following events:

Mallorca:

Port of Palma

  • Start-up of the Portopí Lighthouse from 12h00 to 12h30, accompanied by the sound of the horns and sirens of ships lying in the port of Palma.

Portopí Lighthouse (Palma) 

  • Signal code flags will be flown from the Portopí lighthouse all day.
  • Free Public Exhibition of Navigation Signals at the Portopí lighthouse from 17h00 to 21h00, with guided visits organised in groups.
  • Staging of games, gymkhana and workshops related to lighthouses for children. Exhibition of raptor birds by Natura Parc, who run the Port of Palma falconry service.

Cap Blanc Lighthouse (Llucmajor)

  • The Cap Blanc lighthouse complex will be open to the public from 17h00 to 22h00.

Cap Gros lighthouse (Sóller)

  • The Cap Gros lighthouse will be open to the public from 17h00 to 22h00 (not suitable for the physically handicapped).

Menorca:

Favàritx lighthouse (Maó)

  • The site and exhibition will be open to the public from 17h00 to 22h00 (access to the exhibition is not suitable for the physically handicapped).

Cavalleria lighthouse (es Mercadal)

Ibiza:

Port of Ibiza

  • The Botafoc lighthouse will be in service from 12h00 to 12h30, accompanied by the sound of the horns and sirens of vessels lying in the port of Eivissa.

Formentera:

La Mola lighthouse

  • Open day for the general public at the Cultural and Educational Centre of the La Mola Lighthouse from 17h00 to 21h00, in collaboration with the Formentera District Council.

Important notice: at none of the venues above will public access to the lighthouse tower be allowed.