By
Rebecca Gibson |
Ports are essential for communications and supplies in island communities such as the Balearic Islands. The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands manages and runs the public interest ports of Palma, Alcudia, Mahon, Ibiza and La Savina. These five ports are the gateway to the world for the islands’ one million residents and the twelve million tourists that visit us each year.
These ports are among the most popular Mediterranean cruise destinations. In 2011, 1.6 million passengers visited the islands on 745 calls. The Port of Palma alone accounted for almost 1.5 million passengers and over 500 calls. These figures are a reality thanks to the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands’ constant investments which aim to grow and improve port infrastructures and services, and thus maintain their ports’ leading position.
At the end of the summer, the extended Poniente quays will be brought into service at the Port of Palma. This €28 million project will enable up to six cruise ships of over 300 metres in length to berth in this part of the Port of Palma. This will strengthen Palma’s position as a cruise destination for larger vessels and will consolidate the port as one of the leading five ports in the western Mediterranean.
During the last quarter of the year, the new Botafoc quays at the Port of Ibiza will be brought into operation. This will enable the port to be reorganised and will allow domestic Ropax vessels to be moved to a new terminal away from the city’s old quarter, which is a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. The new area includes a 75,000-metre yard with two 200-metre jetties which will enable five vessels to operate simultaneously, including Ropax vessels and cruise liners. Diverting this heavy traffic away from the city centre will promote the use of the inner port as a berthing area for large yachts and medium-sized cruise vessels. In addition, as the quay berthing line is located alongside the Botafoc breakwater, which can cater for vessels over 300 metres long, Ibiza will be in a better position as a cruise destination.
Another priority cruise traffic project planned by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands is to dredge 190,000 cubic metres of the sea bottom at the Port of Mahon, at a cost of €1.8 million. This project, in addition to optimising vessel berthing and unberthing operations, will undoubtedly bring environmental improvements to the quality of the port’s waters by considerably reducing the turbidity created by the suspension of sediment which takes places during berthing and turning manoeuvres.