News APB | Ports de Balears

The APB collaborates with the MARE Competition exhibition in Alcudiamar

06/08/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) is collaborating with the Audiovisual Contest for the Conservation of the Balearic Sea, MARE, which carries on with its project of immersing the public in the marine environment through a street exhibition featuring images of the sea that surrounds us. “Significar” (Meaning), as the exhibition is called, seeks to bring citizens closer to the richness, beauty and fragility of the Balearic Sea through a dialogue between the image and the word, which is open to multiple interpretations, as many as the number of people who visit the exhibition. This exhibition is inspired by the different meanings of words to establish a game between the viewers and the winning images of the 2023 edition of MARE, and aims to contribute to the conservation of the Balearic Sea through humour, wordplay and dialogue between words and photography. The opening ceremony of MARE's itinerant exhibition took place today on the promenade of the Port of Alcúdia, with Mar Vera and Ignacio Ramos, Head of Expansion and Sustainable Development and Head of Communication and Marketing at Alcudiamar, respectively. The exhibition launch was also attended by the Director of the APB, Toni Ginard, the Deputy Mayor of Alcúdia Town Council, Juan Luis González, as well as the coordinator of MARE, Amador Garcias. “The exhibition prompts us to take another look at our environment,” the organisers explained. After starting in Palma, the exhibition is returning from Menorca to Mallorca. By the end of August, it will have travelled to Formentera and Ibiza, thus completing its tour of all the Balearic Islands. The exhibition that can be visited on the seafront promenade in the Port of Alcudia, until 27 August. The exhibition will be held for the first time in the north of Mallorca, thanks to the support of Alcudiamar, which reinforces its commitment to sustainability and respect for the environment, as well as that of the APB. According to Mar Vera, “Alcudiamar is proud to be the first port to host the “Significar” exhibition of the MARE Competition, which confirms our commitment to the conservation of the Balearic Sea and water quality, which was one of the honourable mentions selected for the last edition of the competition”. Toni Ginard, director of the APB, said, “although the men and women who work in the ports are people who live on land, the sea is obviously an essential part of our way of life, not only because of our work, but also because of the united commitment. MARE represents a wonderful initiative that transforms into a artistic expression a feeling that unites all of us, as Mediterraneans, who seek to conserve our marine environment, which is such a precious asset”. The Deputy Mayor of Alcúdia Town Council, Juan Luis González, apologised for the absence of Josefina Linares, Mayoress of the municipality, due to her busy agenda, and added that he and the rest of the council are pleased to support initiatives such as MARE. “Through images we aim to raise awareness of the need to promote the maintenance of the Mediterranean Sea and to raise awareness of the reality and conservation of this common good,” he said. “Today, we welcome residents and visitors to the north of Mallorca to immerse themselves in our environment's incredible biodiversity through the MARE exhibition. It not only highlights how beautiful the Balearic Sea is, it is also a reminder of the importance of our active participation in its conservation,” explained Amador Garcias, Coordinator of MARE. Besides the exhibition, educational marine photography workshops will be held over the next two weeks. These activities will be targeted at the children taking part in the “Viu la Mar” educational programme organised by the sailing school Wind Pirates, based in Alcudiamar, during the summer. There will be two different types of workshops. Two workshops will be held for children between 5 and 9 years old, in which they will interact directly with the images that form part of the exhibition, and two more workshops for those between 10 and 14 years old, who will be introduced to nautical photography through their different water activities. A collaborative initiative open to additional support MARE is a collaborative Balearic initiative open to support and donations from other institutions and companies that want to help make the beauty of the Balearic Sea visible and work to conserve it. It is supported financially by the Fundació Marilles, and with the collaboration of Menorca Reserva de la Biosfera, EivissaPreservation, Mallorca Preservation Foundation, Menorca Preservation, Save the Med, Iniciatives Mediterrànies, Fòrum Marí d'Eivissa i Formentera, MedGardens, Arrels Marines, Mar de Fons, GOB Menorca, True World, and many more. “MARE is funded by the Marillas Foundation and is backed by many organisations and professionals in the field of photography. We are only at the beginning of a long journey and we need more support to bring the beauty of the sea to the Balearic public and beyond our borders,” adds Garcias.

Environment and CSR Port-city

The APB awards Trasmapi the nautical bus service for the Port of Eivissa

29/07/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) Board of Directors has agreed to select Trasmapi's bid to grant an authorisation to provide the commercial nautical bus service in the Port of Eivissa at its most recent meeting, held last week in Palma. The maritime transfer service runs from the Botafoc area to Eivissa town centre, in Plaça d'es Martell. This is an alternative to land transport which helps to reduce traffic congestion in the Port of Vila and minimise atmospheric pollution. It was decided to continue providing this service due to the positive results obtained in previous years. In April, May and June 2023 alone, some 19,000 cruise passengers used this service, which meant the elimination of 760 bus journeys, including return journeys.

Transport and infrastructure

Tanit Ibiza Port to continue managing the dry dock adjacent to the fishing dock in the Port of Eivissa after being awarded the tender

29/07/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) Board of Directors has agreed to select Tanit Ibiza Port company's bid for a concession to operate the dry dock adjacent to the fishing dock in the port of Eivissa at the last meeting held last week in Palma. These facilities are intended to carry out boat maintenance and repair work. The contract includes the management of a surface area covering over 8,800 square metres of port public domain, divided into 2,400 square metres of water and 6,380 square metres of land. The water area includes a series of moorings for boats that can be repaired in the water. The concession period will be four years. This short period is justified by the processing of the Special Plan for the port, since it is foreseen that this port activity will be relocated to another part of the port. However, two extensions of one year each have been foreseen.

Transport and infrastructure

The APB launches a networking campaign to obtain maximum consensus on a new direction for the redevelopment of the Port of Palma

25/07/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) has begun a networking campaign involving representatives of the port community and other social, institutional and economic stakeholders so as to obtain maximum consensus on the redevelopment of the Port of Palma. This participatory process will gather opinions and any specific requirements that are considered appropriate to draft a new proposal that adapts to the needs and expectations of all stakeholders, with the general public interest prevailing. The President of the APB, Javier Sanz, will participate in these meetings with his technical team in which a new direction for the port will be considered, emanating from a broad consensus between all the participating stakeholders. “We are not talking about budgets or square footage. We are talking about current needs and future solutions. This is about defining uses, spaces and essential port activities, as well as guaranteeing supplies for the population,” Sanz explained. “The future restructuring of the Port of Palma will be fully compatible with the economic, environmental and social sustainability of both the city of Palma and the islands,” added Sanz. The APB has already held meetings with representatives from the nautical sector such as the Balearic Marine Cluster, business associations such as ADNEA and APEAM, boat repair companies such as STP and Astilleros de Mallorca, concessionaires of marinas in the Port of Palma such as Club de Mar, Naviera Balear, Pantalán del Mediterráneo, Marina Port de Mallorca, Marina Cuarentena and the Lonja Marina Chárter. It has also held meetings with PIMECO, CAEB, the Chamber of Commerce and social and cultural associations such as the Amics del Museu Marítim de Mallorca (Friends of the Maritime Museum of Mallorca), the Associació Ran de Mar, the Associació Alzinaires and the Confraria de Pescadors de Palma (Palma Fishermen's Guild), among more than twenty other institutions, groups and associations. Meetings are still pending with ARCA, FANMED, ACOIPAM, the Associació de Veïns del Passeig Marítim (Seafront Promenade Neighbours' Association) and the Fòrum de la Societat Civil (Civil Society Forum), although these contacts may be extended to other entities, administrations and political groups. Service guarantee The APB's Board of Directors recently abandoned the restructuring plan approved in 2020, and the Port of Palma is now taking on the task of promoting a new approach to guarantee maritime connectivity and the operability of the Balearic Islands' logistics chain at all times. In addition, it is also intended to redistribute the industrial ship repair areas and rebuild Palma's maritime façade, giving space to port-city integration projects that include initiatives such as the creation of a municipal sailing school, the relocation of the building dedicated to the nautical-fishing FP or the development of an interactive museum that will also house the fishermen's box and the fishermen's guild.

Port-city Transport and infrastructure Socio-economic development

The APB organises a mock explosive threat drill on a cruise ship in the port of Palma

25/07/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) organised an explosive threat drill in the Port of Palma. The exercise took place on the Seven Seas Grandeur cruise ship, which is moored in the West dock. It involved running a simulation of a hypothetical threat from a suspicious device on the cruise ship. The ship's captain, Aristeidis Mertzanis, ordered the explosive device to be located and the crew to be evacuated. Over 400 of the ship's crew members responded to the emergency instructions by heading to the safety points scattered around the cruise ship. The evacuation of the crew was therefore carried out in an orderly manner. Subsequently, Port Police officers, acting on orders from the APB Control Centre, also proceeded to evacuate Maritime Station number 6. This exercise was designed to test and assess how well the Port of Palma and the cruise ship, as well as the different operators involved in the emergency situation, were able to respond. It was an opportunity to exercise and perfect coordination between all those involved, so as to speed up the response to a real situation. The Guardia Civil, the Palma Fire Department, the Directorate General of Emergencies, the shipping companies Intercruises and the Seven Seas Cruises, the latter made its ship and its entire crew available for the drill, all worked together.

Transport and infrastructure

The APB opens two new slip lanes to the West dock

18/07/2024

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has opened two new slip lanes to the West dock for vehicles heading for the ferries. The aim is to optimise the control of incoming vehicles to this part of the Port of Palma. With the current replanning, the West dock now has three slip lanes. The existing lane is for incoming taxis, shuttle buses, and employees. The second lane is for access by trucks boarding the ferries. The third lane, which runs behind the Nàuticopesquera Vocational Training Centre, is exclusively for cars and motorcycles. The two new slip lanes are operational from 8.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m., Monday to Friday. The aim is to clear traffic at the entrance to the West dock during the peak times at the port, when vehicles board regular line ships. The APB has also built a small roundabout after access control to improve traffic. The different routes to follow have also been marked in different colours to guide vehicles according to the location of their ferry.

Transport and infrastructure

The APB replaces the floating pier of the fishing quay in the port of Ibiza

18/07/2024

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has completed the work to replace the floating pier of the fishing quay in the port of Ibiza, used to moor the vessels of the Fishermen’s Guild and for use by the APB. The work consisted of renewing the original pier, which dated back to 1993 and had come to the end of its working life. Four prefabricated reinforced concrete floating pier modules measuring 2.4 m wide and 12m long with an expanded polystyrene core and wooden fenders were installed for this purposes. The existing wiring was also entirely replaced, and new water and electricity utility towers have been installed on the piers. One side of the pier will be used by the Fishermen’s Guild to moor their fishing vessels. The other half will be used for moorings directly managed and used by the APB. The work has taken four months and was awarded to the company Sealand on Offshore Services SL. The budget for the work amounted to 378,000 euros plus VAT.

Transport and infrastructure

The APB hands over a donation cheque to ADDIF to mark the Es Port. 360 Experiences event on International Yoga Day

12/07/2024

The Balearic Port Authority (APB) and the Rotary eClub Eivissa International yesterday handed over the donation cheque to ADDIF (Adapted Sports Association of Eivissa and Formentera). A cheque for €3,568.17 was handed over at the Ebusus Cultural Society during the Es Port. 360 Experiences event, held on 21 June in es Martell square. The APB delegate for the ports of Eivissa and La Savina, Ignacio Revilla, said that " it gives the APB great satisfaction to be able to present this cheque to ADDIF, so that they can continue with their admirable daily work to include people with functional diversity". Revilla hoped that the charity event last June, "will be the first of many more charitable initiatives as part of our aim regarding corporate social responsibility, to facilitate this type of activity and to help integrate the port into the city". Among those present at the event were the Mayor of Eivissa, Rafael Triguero the Councillor for Social Welfare, Carlona Escandell the President of ADDIF, Myriam Martín the President of Rotary e-Club Ibiza International, Denise Klischan, as well as representatives of the collaborating associations and sponsors who took part in the event. AIS accessibility certificate The APB was also recognised for promoting the first national event with AIS (Accessibility Indicator System) accessibility certification from FARS (Accessibility and Social Responsibility Foundation). A large group of young people from ADDIF also took part in the event and enjoyed this unique experience. AIS (Accessibility Indicator System) is the only international accessibility certification. This certification was based on criteria of functional diversity, whether physical, sensory or cognitive, so that anyone, regardless of their condition, could move around the event comfortably and safely.

Port-city

The APB and UTE Port Maó sign an agreement to draw up the project for the new maritime station at Cós Nou

11/07/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) has formally signed an agreement with the TJV Port Maó, winner of the public tender, to draw up the basic and construction project for the new maritime station at Cós Nou, in the Port of Maó. The contract also provides for technical assistance to the Works Management during the execution of the works. The basic and construction project covers the reorganisation of the surfaces and roads in the area, as required by the access requirements. It aims to integrate the area in an orderly and efficient manner with its surroundings and to facilitate the provision of port services. A provisional maritime station is currently being built on the Cós Nou esplanades. This is in response to the reconversion of the passenger quay at the Port of Maó into a quay intended for port-city integration and for cruise ships.Moving cargo to the Cós Nou was both historic and effective at the same time. The city gained the space previously occupied by freight. In addition, operational safety was increased, since there is more space, especially for dangerous goods, and more berthing length available both at the Cós Nou and at the Cruise Dock. The construction of a definitive maritime station for regular traffic and the transport of goods has therefore become a necessity, culminating in a whole redistribution for the benefit of passengers, cargo, cruise passengers and Mahonese society. This project has a budget of €557,722, excluding VAT. The TJV Port Maó is made up of the companies Grimalt Nadal Morey Engineers and Barceló-Balanzó Architects.The project has a 9-month deadline, while the execution period is 17 months, although there will be a 6-month stoppage due to the tendering of the works. The total timeframe is 32 months, which means that the inauguration of the new Cós Nou maritime station will take place at the end of 2027.

Transport and infrastructure

Stella Maris Mallorca opens its doors in the port of Palma

01/07/2024

The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) and the Diocese of Mallorca are launching Stella Maris Mallorca in the Port of Palma. This international Catholic Church organisation provides human and spiritual assistance to seafarers, as well as supporting their families. The headquarters, lent by the APB, is located in the Contramoll-Mollet in the Port of Palma and hopes to become a centre to help seafarers during their stay on land. At this early stage, Stella Maris Mallorca is managed by the director of the secretariat, Nadal Bernat, and is staffed by a team of secular volunteers. Stella Maris Stella Maris provides comprehensive spiritual, social and work-related assistance to seafarers, regardless of race, nationality, gender, culture, religion or ideology, under the motto "A home away from home". Volunteers from Stella Maris visit ships arriving in port on a daily basis, offering their services and looking after the needs of the crew. When faced with any problem, they do their best to help them and always offer a warm and humane welcome. On a spiritual level, the Apostleship of the Sea signifies a presence of the Church in the port. Seafarers are offered catechetical materials, bibles, rosaries, the opportunity to celebrate mass and the possibility of receiving the readings, prayers and reflections for each Sunday by e-mail. Ministers representing other Christian denominations, Islam and Judaism are also available. History By the end of the 19th century, a number of Catholic missions for seafarers operated under diverse auspices, serving the spiritual, social and material welfare of visiting crews in multiple ports around the world. However, it was at the Port of Glasgow in 1920 that Fr Egger SJ laid the foundations of the future Apostleship of the Sea, under the auspices of the Society of the Apostleship of Prayer. Father Egger, together with Franciscan monk Peter Anson and layman Arthur Gannon, recognised the need for a specific apostolic work for seafarers. On 4 October that same year, the first meeting of Stella Maris - Apostleship of the Sea took place in Glasgow. At that time, the emblem of the Apostleship of the Sea was created, an insignia representing the Sacred Heart of Jesus on an ancient anchor. In Spain, this international organisation has been present since 1923, when the Mallorcan bishop Mons. Josep Miralles encouraged its creation in the Port of Barcelona. The Church has been working with seafarers for more than 100 years. They are currently present in 322 ports in 56 countries. In Spain, they are moored in 15 ports. In these ports, 126 pastoral agents, 10 priests, 3 deacons and 114 lay collaborators and volunteers await the crews who dock in the ports. Over 5,400 ships are visited in a year and more than 6,200 seafarers visited these centres. In total, some 40,000 merchant seafarers and fishermen benefit from their visits and facilities.

Port-city

The APB approves the environmental best practices agreement with the Club de Mar

28/06/2024

At its latest meeting, the Board of Directors of the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) approved the collaboration agreement with Club de Mar Mallorca on best environmental practices in the Port of Palma. This five-year agreement aims to promote environmental investments at the nautical facilities. Club de Mar Mallorca agrees to invest at least 50% of the subsidy obtained in initiatives to improve the environment. It must also comply with a set of technical and operational instructions, based on the best environmental practices guidelines approved by Puertos del Estado. The company is also required to have ISO 14001 certification. Club de Mar Mallorca holds a concession to operate a sports dock, with its complementary uses, next to the Ponent docks in the Port of Palma. Pursuant to the legislation, the APB foresees that all those concession or authorisation holders who carry out certain types of port activities (including fishing and nautical-sports activities) may enter into an agreement on best environmental practices, which will give them a 15% rebate on the activity tax quota.

Environment and CSR

Great turnout for the adapted yoga masterclass in the Port of Eivissa

22/06/2024

Around fifty people took part this Saturday in the charity yoga master class promoted by the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) which was held in Es Martell square in the Port of Eivissa. The Es Port. 360 Experiences event, which was organised to celebrate International Yoga Day, was open to the general public, with all proceeds going to the Adapted Sports Association of Ibiza and Formentera (ADDIF). After the event, the Balearic Port Authority's delegate in Eivissa and Formentera, Ignacio Revilla, said, “At APB, we are extremely grateful to attendees, collaborators and sponsors for their participation in this first Es Puerto. 360 Experiences event. We hope to make it the first of many to be hosted at our facilities, contributing to the overall wellbeing of all the island's citizens”. Es Port. 360 Experiences had internationally trained yoga teacher Shylasvsyoga, artist Diana Pintado and pianist Lorena de Tena, and was awarded the AIS (Accessibility Indicator System) accessibility certificate by the Accessibility and Social Responsibility Foundation. This APB promoted event was organised by Rotary and Club Ibiza International and Puro Bienestar, with the support of the Eivissa Council, Eivissa Town Hall, Pimeef and the Neighbours and Traders Association of the Port of Eivissa.

Port-city