Noticias APB | Ports de Balears

STUDIES COMMISSIONED BY THE APB PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE MOVEMENT OF PASSENGERS ON THE SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS CRUISE SHIP ON ITS STOPOVER AT THE PORT OF PALMA ON 23 JULY 2018

05/03/2019

In 2018, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) asked the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) and a specialist team at the institution to conduct case studies to find out the extent to which the increased sensation of street congestion perceived in the centre of Palma determined and contributed to the decision of cruise ship passengers to disembark. The study, "Analysis of Mobility in Palma based on Data Provided by the SmartWifi Network", was conducted by the UIB team comprising the PhD students Bartomeu Alorda Ladaria, Vicente Ramos Mir and Maurici Ruiz Pérez, while the project, “Study on the Mooring of Symphony of the Seas in Palma”, was conducted using the resources of the APB. The first study was based on a record of geolocation data of mobile devices detected by the SmartWifi network in Palma (a free wifi network that covers both the port and the city of Palma), using the data to monitor the movement of passengers on the Symphony of the Seas cruise ship. The second study entailed, on the one hand, counting the number of passengers that disembarked and embarked the cruise ship and, on the other hand, conducting a survey to find out what activities passenger did in Mallorca and the means of transport they took to get to the activity location. Both studies were conducted during its eight-hour stopover in Palma on Monday 23 July 2018, starting at 8 am and finishing at 4 pm. Of the 6,413 passengers, on board what was at the time considered to be the cruise ship with the largest passenger capacity in the world, 5,271 disembarked, which meant that 17.8% decided to stay on the ship. Of the passengers that disembarked, 51% (3,280) decided to visit Palma: 389 on excursions and 2,891 at their own leisure. Meanwhile, 18% of the others decided to go to another destination and 13% decided to go on an organised excursion that did not include tours of Palma. The data was sourced from the surveys conducted on 849 passengers who decided to visit the Island of Mallorca at their own leisure and from figures provided by the shipping liner on passengers that had booked an excursion prior to docking. Despite the fact that the cruise ship organised many activities in Mallorca for its clients, the majority of the passengers that stepped foot onto the island preferred to visit it by themselves. According to those surveyed, 71% of the passengers who wanted to visit the island by themselves decided to go to the centre of Palma, while 10% visited other locations. Other areas of interest were the Palma Beach (5%), the Bellver Castle (4%), Palmanova Beach (4%), the Portopí shopping centre (3%) and a tourist bus tour (3%). Public transport In terms of the means of transport chosen, 49% of the passengers surveyed said they opted to take the shuttle bus or buses available to get from the ship to the city centre, while 44% decided to take a taxi. Some other less-common options were also mentioned, such as taking the Line 1 bus of the EMT (Municipal Transport Company), walking, taking a so-called 'taxi tour' and even the much more unusual option of hiring a bus. Geolocation of passengers The aim of the study conducted by the UIB on the same date was to focus on the movement of the passengers on Symphony of the Seas during their stay in the city of Palma. The team was able to visualise the position of anonymous passengers by analysing the geopositioning data provided by the SmartWifi network installed at the port and in the centre of Palma, which the APB and the Council have shared through the 365 Palma de Mallorca Tourism Foundation since 2016. In order to do that, an attempt was made to identify groups of devices that had a high probability of belonging to the passengers. As such, algorithms were programmed taking into consideration that the mobile devices of the passengers had not been detected before that date, that their detection coincided with the time the ship was at the port and that the location of the devices had at some point during the day been in the city and at the port. The data obtained showed that 90.4% of the passengers observed by the SmartWifi network visited the centre of Palma, while 73.8% were found at some point on the promenade. The results of the analysis of mobility suggests that the proportion of devices, considered to belong to the passengers of Symphony of the Seas, that was observed at the points of interest was very low in comparison with the total number of devices observed in the same area. In the Mallorca Cathedral area, only 2% of the devices captured by the SmartWifi network were attributed in the study to passengers of Symphony of the Seas. Furthermore, only 1% of the devices detected on the promenade were attributed to the passengers and their presence coincides with the embarking times. As such, it can be deduced that their presence in the area coincides with their return from visiting the city. Finally, less than 1% of the devices were detected in Calle Jaume III and Plaza de España. The average number of passengers observed by hour in the Cathedral is comparable to the average number of passengers observed on the promenade, although the peak times were different. The peak time at the Cathedral was 12 pm, while the peak time at the promenade was at 1 pm. This difference could be due to the passenger process of returning to the ship before the embarking time. The fact that there was also a peak in Calle Jaume III at 1 pm led the researchers to believe that it could have been down to the passengers deciding not to return to the ship for lunch and to extend their visit of the city. Conversely, the maximum peak of passengers in Plaza de España was at 11 am, which may have been due to the policy implemented by the Council of Palma that establishes different bus parking areas for cruise ships. Therefore, the most significant entrance into that area at said time was detected due to the application of said policy or to the timetable of public transport from the port to the centre of Palma. Sensation of street congestion Both documents are limited to analysing the data obtained and not the level of street congestion in Palma. However, the information obtained allows us to have a much more accurate idea of the real percentage of passengers on each cruise ship that visit Palma and the peak congestion times. The UIB concluded that: "this study is limited to showing the methodology of the analysis proposed and the results obtained from the cruise ship studied and not to analysing in depth the degree to which congestion on that day in Palma was perceived. As such, it serves as another tool that can be used to make progress on managing said street congestion."

THE APB BEGINS DEMOLITION WORK ON THE OLD NAVY COMMISSARY AT THE PORT OF PALMA WHERE THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE OCEANOGRAPHIC CENTRE OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS IS TO BE LOCATED

05/03/2019

This March, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) will begin demolition work on the old navy commissary at the port of Palma, located on the Old Harbour, so that the Oceanographic Centre of the Balearic Islands (COB), which belongs to the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), can build its new headquarters on this site. The demolition works have been awarded to the company Construcciones y desmontes Ribera Navarra, S.A. for the sum of EUR 272,431.18 (VAT included) and will take place over approximately 4 months, directly employing a total of 5 people. Once the 9 buildings making up this old commissary have been knocked down, the APB will hand the space over to the COB so it can build its new headquarters, as stipulated under the agreement on the creation of an innovative marine science and technology hub at the Old Harbour of Palma. It should be remembered that this agreement was signed last May with the Vice-President of the Government and the General Secretariat of Science and Innovation of the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Competitiveness. The aim of this agreement is to open the port of Palma to science and citizens, creating a meeting place for collaboration between different institutions and public and private entities. The objective is therefore to promote and develop research, technological development and innovation activities in the marine and maritime sectors, placing emphasis on thematic areas of strategic interest for the Balearic Islands, such as marine sciences and suitable management of the marine environment and the coast.

PORT AUTHORITY OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS TO BEGIN REFURBISHMENT WORKS ON EL MOLINAR PORT ON 18 MARCH

04/03/2019

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) will begin the refurbishment works on El Molinar port on 18 March, consisting of different actions to improve maritime operational capacity and the port-city environment. The works have been awarded to the company ACSA, Obras e Infraestructuras, SA, for 3,087,056.06 euros (VAT included) and will take place over approximately 9.5 months, directly employing a total of 20 people in their execution. This morning, the APB informed the members and users with mooring rights of the Molinar de Levante Maritime Club (CMML) of when the works are to begin and that their concession ends on 16 March. In order to prevent, to the greatest possible extent, any inconvenience for the owners of the boats moored, the APB will, upon request by the CMML, place at their disposition floating docks, a land surface and prefabricated modules in the Portixol facilities so that, for as long as the works last, it can move all the boats under its management there. It was also informed that, on 16 March, the concession of the building where the CMML is currently located and where a restaurant activity is carried out also comes to an end. If the CMML wishes to continue with this activity, for as long as is compatible with the execution of the works, it may expressly request so. Otherwise, the club will no longer be able to continue managing the restaurant. Continuity of management In the same regard, the APB informed the CMML that, if it is interested in continuing to manage the facilities it has been managing up to now, it may request a tender process, in accordance with Article 86 of the Revised Text of the Law on State Ports and Merchant Navy. With this action, the APB aims to fulfil the objectives of combining the private sporting leisure activities with the interests of all citizens, retaining the current dimensions and social nature of the nautical facilities. Without the occupied water surface growing, it aims to ensure that the recreational and sporting activities can continue to take place at this port. The land area will also be optimised by devoting more space to the sailing school, which means this sport can be encouraged among children. The refurbishment includes actions to improve the maritime facilities, the refurbishment of the current building, which will keep its current characteristics, and the redevelopment of the area, extending the promenade.

THE APB IS TO USE DRONES TO CONTROL AND MANAGE THE PUBLIC PORT DOMAIN

26/02/2019

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has begun a pilot programme for the control and management of the public port domain by using state-of-the-art drones, with technical support offered by a specialist company. Trials have begun in the port of Alcudia, but the APB is planning to implement the service in the other ports of general interest which it manages, so long as any such action is in agreement with the current legislation regarding the airspace of each area. This programme, an initiative led by the organisation unit of Quality, Environment and Innovation of the APB, offers numerous possibilities. Among other uses, flying drones enables a real-time and precise reading of the occupation level of public port domain. It can also help supervise the activities which are carried out on the premises of each port and perform environmental checks, among many other supervision functions. The drones offer an extremely accurate view of the port area, which is much better than that obtained at ground level. During the pilot test, a programmed flight has been performed in the port once a week, led by a certified pilot who has all the required permits and authorisations. The programming of this flight is carried out depending on the quality and quantity of the information required, providing a total of 750 photos, resulting in an orthophotograph, which combines the details of a photograph with the geometric information of a map. Therefore, the orthophotograph allows users to gain very precise measurements of the surface. All the information obtained is analysed, generating a calculation matrix which combines different parameters: occupation, patterns or detection of irregularities, among many other factors, allowing for the swift handling of any incident detected. Drone Service 360 is the company hired by the APB to provide the technical assistance service for this project, which is considered to be pioneering and innovative, offering great potential development in the future. The specialised company provides the APB with the data and its interpretation in a very short space of time, therefore allowing the APB to take any corresponding actions as quickly as possible. Adolfo Sastre, CEO/Engineer of Drone Service 360 considers that “the use of drones and the analysis of this information for the management of ports is a giant leap forward into the future for the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, and our company is delighted to be part of such an innovative project”.

THE APB COLLABORATES WITH IMEDEA IN THE USE OF DNA MASSIVE SEQUENCING TO ANALYSE THE BIODIVERSITY IN THE BAY OF PALMA AND ITS PORT AREAS

18/02/2019

A team of researchers from the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB) have developed a study on the biodiversity on the sea bed in the port and the bay of Palma. This has allowed them to identify a total of 269 species of marine worms. The broad diversity of this species is, according to the researchers, a sign of the complex nature of the habitats in the bay and highlights the lack of awareness of the diversity which surrounds us, which is much greater than once thought. The work of these researchers has also identified species which had not been recognised until now in the Balearic Islands, some of which are considered as invasive species. The work arises from the collaboration between the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) and the IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), who signed a research agreement a year ago to carry out an ‘Analysis of the biodiversity of the sea bed (benthic) of the Port of Palma and other areas of the Bay of Palma’. The project, led by Dr Joan Pons of IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) and Dr Maria Capa, from the Biology Department of the UIB and the NTNU University Museum of Norway, arises from the need to answer an interesting question: Is DNA a precise and profitable way of identifying species and monitoring the conservation state of the marine communities? In response to this question, Doctors Capa and Pons have developed a new analysis methodology based on the use of DNA massive sequencing techniques which have allowed them to compare the composition of species of marine worms and their abundance in three areas of differing human impact: the port of Palma, Portitxol and the marine area protected by the Bay of Palma. For the president of the APB, Joan Gual de Torrella, “the main aim of this continuing collaboration between the port and the scientific community is to obtain objective data on which to base decision making, rather than using assumptions or false perceptions”. The study has been coordinated by the Quality, Environment and Innovation Department of the APB. Marine worms - excellent indicator of the state of marine conservation The marine worms or annelids are an abundant and diverse group of invertebrates (with around 17,000 species recorded worldwide, and around 500 discovered in the Balearic Islands) which live mainly on the sea beds. They provide the ideal model for this research, given that they act as representatives of the marine communities and indicators of environmental disturbance. An IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) vessel, with the help of professional divers, collected samples during the summer and winter months of 2017, in the port of Palma, in Portitxol, and also in the marine reserve of the Bay of Palma (Cala Blava) and the island of La Porrassa. A total of 60 sediment and scraping samples of hard surfaces (walls and artificial structures) were collected and then processed and studied in detail both at a morphological and genetic level. Samples collected in the sediment of the port environments contain a low diversity of species, some of which are indicators of degraded environmental conditions, which was expected. However, some samples taken on the walls which are most exposed to the ports, including the docks where the ferries and cruise ships moor in the West Dock, reflect a better state of conservation than expected. This is due to the appearance of a large range of species, some unique to non-human environments. Invasive species In addition, the study has allowed us to detect the presence of invasive species, such as Ficopomatus enigmaticus, present in the catalogue of Spanish invasive species, or species of the Hydroides genus, not recorded until now in the Balearics. We are unaware of when they arrived in Mallorca due to the lack of prior studies. They were possibly brought to our waters attached to the hulls of the boats or in a larval stage in the ballast water. Its presence is associated with negative effects for the environment, as it can end up forming dense colonies of shallow calcareous tubes which displace native species, as well as obstructing channels and gates in ports and other coastal systems, or growing on the boat hulls. In the Balearics, we are not yet aware of the size of the problem given that in-depth studies of the port environments are still to be carried out. Currently, there are two students, one working on a Master's project, and the other on a Dissertation, to try to resolve some of these questions. Morphology and genetics: two complementary methods Regarding the methodological question posed at the start which gave rise to the research, this study has allowed us to compare the traditional method of visual identification of species based on the comparison of morphological data with a different methodology which is on the rise for this study of the composition of the species in the communities through DNA massive sequencing techniques. The aim has been to discover which of the techniques is more precise and efficient. The conclusions drawn are particularly important for projects involved in assessing the biodiversity and marine communities which are affected by the environment. With traditional methods, using solely morphological data, we were able to recognise 203 species. In comparison, the purely genetic data, taken from DNA massive sequencing, was able to identify 122 species, which is 40% less. However, the overlap between both methods was 50%. Both methods, therefore, achieve complimentary results and, when used in combination, allow us to increase our knowledge of the composition of the marine communities. The genetic methods present a greater development potential, but still require the generation of a complete database which allows us to associate DNA sequences to nominal species. In financial terms and taking into account the time required, there were no great differences observed between the systems. A methodology for monitoring port environments According to Jorge Martín, the head of Quality, Environment and Innovation at the APB, “this first step taken in the ports of Palma allows us to consider the possibility of implementing the project in other ports, involving those which are under our management and proposing it for those which aren’t”. In fact, the results of this study are relevant for the port authorities as well as other interested parties when it comes to assessing the quality of the marine environment. This is because they validate an effective methodology for estimating the biodiversity and the conservation state of the marine communities. In addition, for the first time, we have obtained genetic bar codes for 80 species, therefore increasing the public databases which allows identification of species from DNA sequences, streamlining and decreasing the cost of successive monitoring campaigns. Thanks to this, we can implement a better management and conservation of the biodiversity, as well as detect invasive species.

THE APB IS TO EXTEND THE SES FIGUERASSES DOCK AT THE PORT OF MAHON

14/02/2019

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has put the extension works of the Ses Figuerasses dock at the Port of Mahon out to tender. The aim of the remodelling under the tender is to connect the hospital walkway and the Repòs del Rei area. The extension will give pedestrians access from the hospital and the Repòs del Rei area, while also adapting the zone for recreational use, providing it with a number of mooring positions for small length vessels. In addition to being resistant to the sea environment, the type of concrete chosen for the works will have similar aesthetical characteristics to that already present in the area so as to maintain visual coherence with the other elements at the Port of Mahon. Said dock will be covered with limestone in the dry-wall style, and the finish chosen for the pavement will be of pine wood flooring, appropriately treated, in order to ensure adequate durability. It is worth mentioning that this remodelling joins the works currently underway at said dock to resolve the stability issues, which have caused a large longitudinal crack along the dock, a problem that forced the APB to close the access point on safety grounds. The extension of the Ses Figuerasses dock relates to improving the port infrastructure located at the south bank in front of the Illa del Rei at the Port of Mahon and will extend up to 167 metres in length. The useful life of the extension is expected to last 50 years and it has an estimated budget of 711,125.18 euros, plus VAT. The works are expected to start this forthcoming May and to last around 6 months. The deadline for tender submissions is 11 March 2019. All the information is available at the APB Online Tender Portal.

THE EXHIBITION OF THE 9TH EDITION OF THE APB PAINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION CAN NOW BE SEEN IN IBIZA UNTIL 2 MARCH

08/02/2019

The exhibition of the famous Painting and Photography Competition run by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has been transferred to Ibiza to begin its tour. This event, now in its 9th edition, can be found in Sant Antoni de Portmany, at the Ses Coves Blanques lighthouse. It will remain there until 2 March, and will move on to the final step of its voyage on the 11th of that same month in Mahon, in the Caixabank Exhibition Centre. The event will come to a close on Saturday 23rd. It's worth highlighting that this year's event has received more than 100 entries, which have fallen into the three categories: watercolours, other painting techniques and photography. The short-listed work has been presented in the exhibition, which began on 5 December last year at the Military History and Culture Centre of the Balearic Islands. Most of this year's entries have come from the Balearic Islands, but there have also been submissions from artists coming from Granada, Malaga, Girona, Tarragona and Madrid, among others. Focus on Ibiza Ibiza has had an honorary mention in this year's event in the Photography category, thanks to the work of Ibiza native Oscar Elias Torres, who presented the photograph entitled Una luz en el abismo (A light in the abyss). The first prize in the watercolour category went to Pablo Rubén López from Madrid for his work Alcúdia, while the winner of the other painting techniques category was Alcudia's very own Ana del Valle, with her work entitled Alcúdia Junio 2018 (Alcudia June 2018). Last but not least, the first prize for Photography this year was awarded to Eva Abril from Menorca for her work Serenor. This painting and photography competition, sponsored and organised by the APB, allows different artists to share their fascination with our ports and lighthouses among the people of the islands. Furthermore, as this ninth edition has shown, it also attracts the attention of visitors from further afield, who pay very special homage to this wonderful cultural heritage and landscape. Location, dates and visiting times in Ibiza: Faro de Ses Coves Blanques. c/ Alemanya, 1. Sant Antoni de Portmany. 8 February to 2 March 2019. Tuesday to Saturday, 17:00 to 21:00.

THE PORT AUTHORITY OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS STARTS WORK ON RENOVATING AND UPGRADING ITS FORMER HEADQUARTERS

08/02/2019

After completing the tender process, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) will soon start work on renovating and upgrading its former headquarters. This is the building located on Muelle Viejo no. 3 in the Port of Palma. The restorations are intended to completely renovate this iconic building for public use. The works have been awarded to Acciona Construcción, S.A. for €5,444,964.90 inc. VAT. It will take fifteen months and up to 70 people are expected to be directly employed. The project includes the creation of a restaurant on the top floor, which will allow visitors to enjoy the exceptional views of the Bay and Palma Cathedral. There will be an open-plan room on the second floor for hosting permanent exhibitions, and the construction of an auditorium with capacity for 200 people is also planned. In respect of access, a new entrance will be created on the southern façade, which is the closest to the sea, in order to facilitate visitors’ access to the building. The former headquarters have not been in use since October 2012, when the APB headquarters were moved to the current building on Muelle Viejo no. 5. The listed building that is now going to be renovated is in the neoclassical style and was built in 1940. It was extended in 1955. It has over 3,000 square metres distributed on 3 floors and is located on 1,566 square metres of land. The façade is conserved The construction project keeps the façade intact. To avoid it getting damaged during the demolition of the interior of the building, a metal framework will be installed inside to support the entire façade, which will also be restored. On the other hand, the upper part of the façade that faces the sea will be demolished since it was a later addition to the building that breaks its aesthetic continuity. This façade, devoid of architectural interest, will be replaced by a large stained glass window, to be used as a lookout. The enclosure around the land adjacent to the southern façade, currently used as a carpark, will be removed, and the land will be transformed into a garden and rest area with a large wooden bench. With the renovations, the building’s energy efficiency will be considerably improved, with a B rating. To achieve this, among other measures the heating, ventilation and air conditioning and lighting systems will be upgraded, with the lighting system to be entirely comprised of LED lights. During the works, the building’s perimeter will be closed to pedestrians for safety reasons, while the cycle lane will remain open during most of the works and will only be diverted during the month in which the western façade, the closest to the cycle lane, is worked on.

THE PORT AUTHORITY OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS INFORMS THE EL MOLINAR MARITIME CLUB OF THE FUTURE OF ITS FACILITIES IN THE PORT OF PALMA

07/02/2019

This morning, at the meeting held between representatives of the El Molinar Maritime Club and the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), the APB has informed the club of its intention to ensure that all nautical facilities will keep their current dimensions and social character. The aim is for there to be a nautical sports facility which ensures that these recreational and sporting pursuits can be continued on the same water surface this port has always offered. There is no actual increase to the sea surface area occupied, however, the land area is maximised by dedicating more space to a sailing school which encourages this sport among children. The refurbishment project is scheduled for the end of February and will start with the repair and renewal of all parts which are in a state of deterioration and not suitable for use, such as the breakwater and the land areas. The building will also be rebuilt, so it becomes an updated version of what it currently offers. The budget for this project is €3 million which will be paid for by the APB. A tender process will be held to decide which company carries out the project for the refurbishment of the port. If no suitable company is found, the APB will put it out to open public tender, under the same conditions demanded from a yacht club organisation. Financial viability The APB has carried out a prior study which certifies the financial viability of the project, with a positive outcome. The aim of the APB is that this private activity is compatible with the public’s use and enjoyment of not just El Molinar, but so all the people of Palma can enjoy a seafront without any infrastructure blocking or spoiling the view. The APB believes that this project deals with and fulfils a double objective: combining private sporting leisure activities with the interests of all citizens regarding a public investment. Finally, it should also be mentioned that the representatives of El Molinar have been informed that the approximately 80 moorings for small length vessels that they control will be temporarily and exclusively located while the work is being carried out in one of the floating docks that the APB is planning to install in its Portitxol facilities.

IN 2018, BALEARIC ISLANDS´ GENERAL INTEREST PORTS EXCEED 16 MILLION TONNES OF GOODS

06/02/2019

According to traffic statistics from the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), the quantity of goods passing through the Balearic Islands´ General Interest Ports amounted to 16.2 million tons during the financial year 2018. That´s an 800,000 ton growth since 2017, or in other words, 5% more than the previous year. All 5 ports of general interest have experienced increases in volume of goods, save the Port of La Savina, where volume has decreased by 3%. The total volume of goods then has increased by 7% in the Port of Palma, 6% in the Port of Mahon, 5% in the Port of Alcudia and 2% in the Port of Ibiza. In total, more than 13 million tons of general merchandise (consumer goods) were registered as having passed through the ports (+7%) in 2018, corresponding to 8,571,247 in the Port of Palma (+6%), 2,709,468 in the Port of Ibiza (+4%), 1,076,925 in the Port of Alcudia (+30%), 461,584 in the Port of Mahon (+6%) and 247,671 in the Port of La Savina (-5%). In terms of liquid bulk (basically, combustibles), the Balearics are, overall, seeing a total growth of 9%, increasing in the Ports of Palma (18%), Mahon (9%) and Alcudia (2%), while decreasing in Ibiza (-21%). Solid bulks (carbon, grains, salt, construction materials, etc.) have fallen by 12% in total, increasing in the Port of La Savina (+33%) and decreasing in the others: Palma (-22%), Mahon (-12%), Alcudia (-11%) and Ibiza (-7%). Growth in number of passengers in Alcudia Lastly, if we analyse the number of passengers to the 5 ports, in 2018 that figure was 8.9 million, 8% more than in 2017. Of that 8.9 million, 6.5 corresponds to regular transport lines and 2.4 to cruise ships. All ports operated by the APB have seen a growth in number of passengers, all except the Port of Mahon, where that number decreased by 11%. This highlights the notable growth of passengers to the Port of Alcudia, with 32% coinciding with the launch of the new regular route connecting Alcudia and Toulon, France. Palma has also registered a major 17% growth, while in the ports of the Pityusic Islands, growth has been more moderate (4% in La Savina and 2% in Ibiza). More information in Statistics

Chairwoman of Puertos del Estado agrees with the APB: ports should contribute to improving their urban surroundings

05/02/2019

The Chairwoman of Puertos del Estado, Ornella Chacón, agrees with the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) that ports should contribute to improving their surrounding urban areas. She stresses the case of general interest ports on the Balearic Islands, as they are so closely connected to their surrounding towns and cities. Chacón issued these statements after an institutional visit to the President of the Regional Government of the Balearic Islands, Francina Armengol. The visit took place this morning at the Parliament of the Balearic Islands, and was also attended by the APB Chairman, Joan Gual de Torrella. Specifically, the Chairwoman of Puertos del Estado referred to the works planned by APB on the Paseo Marítimo de Palma, having received a detailed report of this project during her visit to the Mallorcan capital. In this respect, Chacón said that port resources should also be used to improve the city's image, "because the port also benefits from the attraction that this city represents". In turn, the APB Chairman confirmed that the building project is currently in the drafting phase and that the works will be put to tender by the middle of the year, with construction beginning in 2020. Port-city transformation Gual de Torrella highlighted the transformation of the ports managed by APB, which are all located in urban environments. "Port and city is the same thing. There is no line that separates one from the other", he said, while emphasising the new seaside promenades being constructed at the Eivissa and La Savina ports. The Chairwoman of Puertos del Estado is in Palma today and tomorrow to attend a series of internal conferences of the Spanish port system on the future of the strategic framework of general interest State port. She will be joined at these conferences by around sixty participants including chairpersons and directors of port authorities from across Spain.

THE APB AND THE PALMA CITY COUNCIL PRESENT WELCOME PALMA, AN APP WHICH OFFERS PERSONALISED AND USEFUL INFORMATION FOR CRUISE TOURISTS

04/02/2019

The President of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), Joan Gual de Torrella, and the Councillor for Tourism, Business and Employment of the Palma City Council, Joana M. Adrover, have this morning presented the Welcome Palma app at the APB headquarters. This is a tool created by the APB in collaboration with the Palma 365 Tourism Foundation and the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB). It is aimed at providing personal information to the cruise tourists who get off in Palma, and hopes to improve visitor satisfaction and help control infrastructure. The app feeds off information obtained through the port and Palma city WiFi network, which also allows us to control the flow of visitors in real time. In this way, the information we obtain can help us offer information specific to each tourist which will improve their stay. It also can help satisfy visitors and help achieve a more balanced spread of tourists around the points of interest in the city. Welcome Palma lets users know in real time which places are the busiest and helps organise the most convenient itinerary. It also provides additional information on culture, public transport services and gives up-to-date weather forecasts. The app will be trialled starting on Tuesday 5 February as the Costa Diadema cruise ship arrives. This test period will last for between 4 and 6 weeks, in which data obtained over the WiFi network will be collected and analysed. It is hoped that the app will be available to everybody by Easter. Among its more innovative features, it is worth highlighting the ability to show ‘heat maps’ which indicate the sites where there are a lot of visitors, and the ‘chatterbot’, which goes by the name of Sebastian. This virtual guide, named after the Patron Saint of the city, will guide tourists throughout their visit and help them decide what to do. It also provides cruise tourists with clear and simple information regarding the time schedule of the cruise ship stopover, and the public transport available to ensure that they get back to the ship on time. The best way to access the app is through Facebook, given that this enables the tourist to get personalised information, with insight into the most popular sites, how busy these places are in real time, proximity, and things suited to the likes of the user. However, it can also be accessed through the web portal or the application. APB's contribution The President of the APB, Joan Gual de Torrella, has stated that Welcome Palma is the port's contribution to the Palma 365 Tourism Foundation, of which the APB is a member. Gual has highlighted the importance that managing and optimising the use of the new tourist feature has for cruise ship tourism, as well as the collaboration with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) for coping with similar challenges to those faced by other cruise ship destinations such as Barcelona, Venice or Dubrovnik. The Councillor for Tourism, Business and Employment at the Palma City Council, Joana Maria Adrover, has thanked the APB for their involvement with the Palma 365 Tourism Foundation and has pointed out that this project is aimed at helping residents and visitors live together better, as well as also pointing out some other points of interest which are not so well-known by visitors. This aims to spread the benefits of this type of tourism out better. Pedro Homar, manager of the Palma 365 Tourism Foundation has shown some of the technical aspects of the application and told us that “it is a tool for controlling Palma's success as a tourist destination”. Homar explained that the app could be accessed through the internet or Facebook and would have a major benefit in preventing crowds gathering in the centre of the city, sending them instead to other places of interest. Jorge Martin, the head of Quality, Environment and Innovation at the APB and the person in charge of the project explained more technical details about the application and thanked the company Connociam, the UIB and the University of Girona for their involvement in the creation of the app.