Greener and more competitive ports: the APB drives the debate on sustainability in the nautical sector
The conference introduces a pioneering guide to best practices for nautical facilities as part of the Palma International Boat Show
Palma
30/04/2025
The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) just wrapped up a successful conference on “Sustainability as a competitive factor” at the Port Centre in the Port of Palma. The event took place as part of the Palma International Boat Show, showing how committed they are to innovation and sustainability in the nautical and port sector.
The APB's president, Javier Sanz, kicked things off, sharing how important the organisation thinks sustainable development is for the future of the port system. Next, Jorge Martín, Head of Operations and Environment at the APB, gave a presentation on the new Guide to Good Environmental Practices for Nautical Facilities, which is a tool that offers criteria for reducing the environmental impact of port activities and promoting more efficient management.
The conference continued with a round table discussion moderated by journalist Mar Ferragut from the Diario de Mallorca newspaper. During the debate, David Pino, director of Port Vell and coordinator of the America's Cup in the Port of Barcelona, brought his experience in major nautical events to the table. Ricardo Sanz, co-managing partner of IRP Engineering, shared examples of technological solutions applied to sustainability. Lucía Mingot, Director of Quality, Innovation and Sustainability at Astilleros Mallorca, was keen to stress how important it is to make environmental criteria part of the whole value chain in the nautical industry. Isabel Teruel, Director of Operations at Ocibar, championed the importance of inter-company collaboration to achieve common goals. Finally, Silvia Delgado, Managing Director of the Balearic Islands Regional Development Agency, listed the support tools that the administration makes available to the sector to promote sustainable innovation.
Closing remarks were given by Antoni Mercant, Director General of Ports and Maritime Transport, who underlined the need to strengthen the alliance between the public and private sectors in order to move towards a sustainable blue economy.
The event ended with a networking session to help participants exchange ideas and forge new partnerships. With initiatives such as this, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands continues to show its commitment to an environmentally friendly and forward-looking port management model.
