Noticias APB | Ports de Balears

The TSJB confirms the concession of the dry dock at the port of Palma to STP

23/02/2010

The High Court of Illes Balears (TSJB) has confirmed the grant, by the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB), to Port Technical Services Company, Inc. (STP) for the concession of the shipyard of the port of Palma, after rejecting the application for judicial review submitted by Boat Yard Palma, SL. In effect, the sentence issued by the Division of Administrative Litigation of TSJB is in accordance with the legal decision rendered on 25 October 2006, by which the APB awarded the contract for the operation of the facility for shipyard services and boat launching in the commercial docks of Palma harbor to STP. The Court stated that "against this sentence there is no room for common appeal."

First unloading of fuel at the Naval Base in Port Maó

04/02/2010

The tanker Mar Rocio was today, the first to utilize the new facilities for the discharge of liquid fuel that the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) built at the naval base of Port Maó and which involved an investment of 2.4 million euros. With this new infrastructure, the port of Maó can accommodate tankers of greater length and load capacity, which will substantially reduce the number of stopovers at the port throughout the year and also eliminate the traffic of fuel-laden tanker trucks in the port area. The fuel unloading facilities were built at the naval base of Port Maó, thanks to an agreement signed by the Ministry of Defence, the Government of the Balearic Islands, the Council of Minorca, Maó City Council and the APB.

Granted the operation of a cement silo at the Port of Alcudia

01/02/2010

The PAB has granted for a period of 15 years, the operation of a storage facility and the distribution of cement on the Ribera dock at the port of Alcudia, to Sitges Reunides SL. The company will occupy a ground lot of 1,976 m2, 162 m2 of underground surface, plus 16 m2 for the unloading facility on the service area dock

The PAB freezes and reduces port fees to cushion the effects of the economic crisis

01/02/2010

In 2010, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (PAB) will freeze five of the seven taxes it collects from the ports of general interest it manages in the Balearic archipelago and implement a reduction in the other two, as a measure to help alleviate the economic recession. This action is taken in compliance with Law 26/2009 of 23 December, the General State Budget for 2010 and Law 48/2003 of 26 November, the economic regimen and the provision of general services of the major ports. Specifically, quotas will be maintained for fees for special usage of port facilities B1, B2, B3 and B5, which refer to ships, passengers, cargo and pleasure boats, and the rate of maritime signalling services, B0. In addition, during 2010 there will be a reduction of 0.7% on the fee for special usage of the public domain in the exercise of commercial, industrial and services and of 0.6% on the fee for private occupation of the public domain of the port.

Ferrovial to build docks in Botafoc in the port of Ibiza

04/08/2009

The technical committee responsible for evaluating the bids submitted to the open tender for the construction of the proposed esplanade and commercial docks protected by Botafoc in the port of Ibiza, has chosen the joint venture of UTE as the best technical offer out of the nine candidates presented. This joint venture is formed by Ferrovial Agroman S.A., Construcciones y Estudios S.A. and Construciones Llull Sastre S.A. The winning bid submitted by the UTE, headed by Ferrovial S.A., is a variation of the original draft, resulting in some technical modifications, as well as a reduction of 17'2% of the tender of 93.8 million euros, including VAT. This establishes a proposed budget of 77.7 million euros, including VAT. Due to this technical alternative to the original project, a new agenda has been formed. The Bureau of Contractors will bring the proposal before the president of the PAB, Francesc Triay. From this point there will be a period of one month for the signing of the construction contract. Subsequently, the Ports of the State must approve the proposed variation presented by Ferrovial S.A.. In this way, it is estimated that construction could begin in December. The projected deadline for the execution of the construction is twenty-two months. First stage The objective of the proposal is the construction of a 63.000m ² esplanade and two quays, 200m long and 30m wide, resulting in a total gain of 75.000m ² of surface area over water. This is the first step towards the future construction of a space suitable for traffic of regular passenger ferries and general cargo, away from the urban center and providing sufficient security guarantees. In this area, plans are underway to build a new ferry terminal, which will have elevated walkways for embarkation and disembarkation of passengers. There will also be areas zoned for loading and unloading of merchandise and vehicles, as well as parking. It will facilitate the general improvement of the port of Ibiza and will feature a new ferry terminal for passengers bound for the port of La Savina, the modification of the existing promenade and the reorganization of services in the port.

PAB requests that the Ministry of Culture immediately invites UNESCO to visit the port of Ibiza

14/07/2009

The chairman of the Port Authority of Balears (PAB), Francesc Triay, has requested the Ministry of Culture, through the State Ports, to invite without delay, the committee from UNESCO, to assess whether the projects designed for the port of Ibiza will affect "Ibiza, biodiversity and culture", declared a World Heritage Site in 1999. It was also emphasized that the PAB had no official knowledge of the agreement adopted in Seville in late June by the Heritage Committee of UNESCO, broadcasted yesterday by the GEN-GOB at a press conference in Ibiza. The PAB made it clear that it has always strictly followed the procedures necessary to carry out the internal expansion and reforms of the port of Ibiza. Accordingly, it was pointed out that the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was approved by the Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Environment in June 2008, which granted a hearing and the opportunity to file allegations during the process of public information. Detrimental delay The PAB believes that none of the property under the protection of the declaration of Ibiza World Heritage Site is affected by the proposed extension and internal renovation of the port. UNESCO was informed of this in a letter dated April 16, 2009. It is therefore seeking an urgent visit by experts from the World Heritage Center, IUCN and ICOMOS to the port of Ibiza in order to clarify the project in detail and to defend the condition of protected natural area. The PAB will do everything in its power to ensure that there are no more delays in the schedule of renovations at the port of Ibiza. A further setback would be detrimental not only to maritime shipping, but also to all residents and visitors to the Pitiusas, as well as to the image of the main entrance to the island of Ibiza.

10,000 cruise passengers in the Port of Palma in one day

09/07/2009

The Port of Palma recorded, on July 17, a record of 10,000 cruise passengers in one day, accommodating three megacruiseships and another medium in size at its docks. The four ships were Costa Magica, with 101,350 tonnes and 272 metres MSC Orchestra, with 92,409 tonnes and 293 metres Arcadia, with 83,000 tonnes and 285 metres and Thomsom Destiny, with 37,773 tonnes and 214 metres. The Port of Palma is expected, in 2008, to beat the historic record of 500 stopovers in the same year.

Visit to the works of the new maritime station and the port of Alcudia

07/07/2009

The chairman of the Port Authority of Balears (PAB), Francesc Triay, visited today the construction site of the new Alcudia ferry terminal, which will gradually enter into service starting in the month of September. With this new infrastructure, the Port Authority of Balears concludes a series of improvements which will double the passenger traffic and general merchandise in the port and making it the base for the maritime connections between Majorca, Menorca and Barcelona. With a budget of more than thirteen million euros, the new terminal, with its elevated walkways for embarkation and disembarkation of passengers, will be able to serve up to 300,000 passengers a year and four vessels simultaneously. It is being built on an area of 3600 m², has three floors and will have luggage facilities, offices, a cafeteria and a restaurant, among other things. The visit was attended by the mayor of Alcúdia, Miquel Ferrer, who was accompanied by the rest of his government team. Ferrer said that the new facility will enhance, "without a doubt" the economy of the port and the Majorcan location. With this construction the PAB will be entering into the final stretch of their thirty-four million euro investment of recent years in the port of Alcudia. Among the highlighted events are the extension of 30,000 square meters of the Poniente dock, the dredging of the commercial area, the stabilization of the Ribera and Adosado docks, as well as urban upgrading of the promenade and surrounding area.

Jury set up for competition for Cos Nou Ferry Terminal

03/07/2009

This morning, the president of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (PAB), Francesc Triay, presided over the establishment of the jury to decide on the winners of the preliminary plans for the ferry terminal of Cos Nou in the port of Mahon. Once they were summoned to the old Trasmediterrenea building in the port of Palma and the jury was set up, members of the tribunal initiated the opening of the submitted bids, the admission of the work and the ensuing deliberations. A period of fifteen days was determined to prepare the decision of the jury. The members of the jury who attended the meeting included the chairman of the PAB, Francesc Triay and the mayor of Mahon, Vicenç Tur, as president and vice president of the jury Matías Angel Mateos, director of the PAB, Jorge Martin and Jorge Nasarre, also representing the PAB Ricardo Collado, representing the College of Civil Engineers Jesus Cardona, on behalf of the Official College of Architects of the Balearic Islands Santiago de Udaeta, representing the Insular Council of Menorca Elisenda Boet, representing the City Council of Mahon Canalis Oscar and Angel Charro Matias, on behalf of the Govern de les Illes Balears Antoni Cladera ,Civil Engineer, designated by the contestants and Jaume Ferrando, as secretary of the PAB, who has a voice in discussions, but no vote. The architect appointed by the contestants, Manuel Ruizsánchez Capelastegui, excused his absence from the meeting.

First Informative Meeting with the Media

21/05/2009

The PAB organized this week the First Informative Meeting on Ports, Shipping and Logistics with the Media for the local press in the port of Palma. The motive for organizing this event was to publicize the role of the major ports of the Balearic Islands, day by day, in the economic and social development of our community. During three sessions various statements were distributed which addressed the running of operations in the port: management and facilities aids to navigation: lighthouses and maritime transport the port of Palma: order and usage cruise ship traffic: economic and environmental impact and went on to the responsibilities of the technical personnel of the Port Authority and the president of the Provincial BusinessAssociation of Marine Activities of the Balearic Islands, Apeam

The Port of Palma prepares for the christening of AIDAluna

01/04/2009

The president of the Port Authority of theBalearic Islands (PAB), Francesc Triay, gave a press conference to cover the events that have been organized by the cruise company AIDA Cruises for the christening ceremony of the cruise ship AIDAluna, to be held next weekend in the Port of Palma. On Saturday, April 4, at nine in the evening, the chief authorities of the islands will be received on board by the heads of AIDA Cruises and Carnival Corporation before the commencement of the ceremony. The patroness of AIDAluna, German top model Franziska Knupp, will perform the christening of the ship. After this, fireworks will be launched from the port which will be visible from the entire seafront promenade of Palma. The following day, the PAB will present the traditional plaque to the commander of AIDAluna. Triay stressed that this event highlights the importance of the Port of Palma as a destination for cruise ships in the Mediterranean and promotes the Balearic Islands in the cruise tourism sector in Europe. Also appearing before the press were, the Minister of Tourism of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Miquel Nadal, the Councilor for Economy and Tourism of the Consell of Majorca, Maria Isabel Oliver, and the Deputy of Tourism, Juana Maria Borrás

The PAB awarded at Seatrade Cruise Shipping Miami

23/03/2009

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (PAB) has returned from Seatrade Cruise Shipping Miami, the world's largest international trade fair for cruise ships, with an award from the Dream World Cruise Destination Magazine which recognizes the Port of Palma for being the best port operations base for cruise ships. A delegation, headed by the chairman of the PAB, Francesc Triay, participated in the annual meeting of the international cruise ship tourism industry, by representing the Balearic Islands in the promotional programme that Ports of the State organizes every year in this U.S. city. The Balearic delegation perceived an attitude of confidence on the part of the world’s major cruise companies, which have demonstrated that they are capable of continuing to grow at a healthy pace and are competent in the face of the economic crisis. The chairman of the PAB was accompanied in Miami by the director, Matthew Angel, the sales manager, Matthew Ginard and the chief of the ports of Ibiza and La Savina, Joaquín Jiménez. Also forming part of the delegation in Miami were the president of the Provincial Business Association of Maritime Activities in the Balearic Islands (Apeam), Miquel Puigserver, the president of the Business Association of Travel Agencies in the Balearic Islands, Pedro Iriondo and the major shipping agents for cruise ships on the islands.