Ports IB removed 53 migrant boats from Balearic ports during 2025

PalmThe Balearic Islands Port Authority (Ports IB) managed the removal of 53 boats that arrived at various ports in the archipelago during 2025. The average cost per vessel, which includes transport from the port, dismantling, cleaning, and decontamination of the affected areas, was €616, according to the Ministry of the Sea and Water Cycle. These actions are part of the regular procedures that Ports IB maintains to guarantee the safety, cleanliness, and proper functioning of port facilities, as well as the appropriate management of abandoned vessels in accordance with environmental and safety criteria. According to data from the Ministry of the Interior, 7,321 people arrived in the Balearic Islands aboard 401 boats during 2025. This figure represents a 24.5% increase compared to the previous year and confirms 2025 as the year with the most arrivals recorded to date in the Canary Islands, both in terms of the number of people and the number of boats. The trend of arrivals has continued into early 2026, with seven boats carrying a total of 147 people already located in Formentera, Cabrera, and Mallorca during the first four days of the year. Since 2020, Ports IB has managed the removal of 324 boats from the ports of the Balearic Islands. The total cost of managing these operations amounts to €199,680. Analysis of the period between 2020 and 2025 shows a significant concentration of arrivals at specific points along the coast and during particular times of the year. Colonia de Sant Jordi is the port with the most boats removed, with 120 vessels, followed by Cabrera, with 106, and Portocolom, with 69. Other ports such as Cala Figuera, Sant Antoni, and Portopetro have lower figures, while the remaining facilities register occasional arrivals. Regarding the monthly distribution, the data shows a clear seasonal pattern, with a higher incidence during the autumn months. October is the month with the most boats removed, 46, followed by November, 37, and September, 34. High numbers are also recorded during the summer, especially in August and July, while March, May, and April have the lowest figures.