The design of the new port of Palma will cost 2.1 million euros

PalmDesigning the new port of Palma will cost €2.1 million. This is the starting price for the tender launched by the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) to contract the technical assistance that will draft the Master Plan and the urban development proposal for the transformation of the commercial docks and the eastern waterfront of the Port of Palma. The tender is now open, and teams of architects and engineers have until February to submit proposals based on the APB's guidelines, which are included in the various published tender documents. This is a long-awaited project, debated for years in institutional, economic, and public spheres, and it must address some of the main challenges facing the port in the 21st century, following exponential growth in ships, cargo, and, most recently, passengers. The renovation stems from the political and institutional consensus reached by the APB Board of Directors on October 30, 2024, after clashes between representatives of the different administrations. The original 2020 reorganization plan generated controversy among shipping companies and repair firms, who felt that the proposal did not adequately address the port's operational and industrial needs. Furthermore, left-wing parties criticized the plan, warning of a model geared towards leisure and the commercialization of the city's waterfront. Faced with this rejection, the APB board initiated a broader debate process that culminated in the 2024 agreement.

Final Reorganization

The president of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens, emphasized that the Port Authority did not have a final project on the table and avoided publicly commenting on the APB's reorganization proposals, which critics were using to argue that they aimed to transform the port into a tourist-oriented nightlife area. The APB's Board of Directors unanimously approved a plan in the fall of 2024. new port configuration that aims to redistribute usesThe plan involves the gradual relocation of ship repair and maintenance activities to the West Dock, the maintenance of ferry and freight traffic at the commercial docks, and closer integration of the freed-up spaces with the city. This strategy is reinforced by a participatory process involving more than 60 social, economic, and institutional stakeholders. The need for this reorganization stems from the recent evolution of port activity. In recent years, the Port of Palma has experienced a sustained increase in passenger and freight traffic, particularly related to regular ferry services to the Spanish mainland and the rest of the Balearic Islands, while its ship and vessel maintenance and repair activities have intensified. This combination of increased traffic and pressure on limited space has made it clear that the port's internal organization and its relationship with the city are essential. The aim is to prevent any speculative urban development.

The document outlining the criteria for the new port calls for the inclusion of areas for nautical sports and recreational activities, with spaces open to the public and facilities such as the Municipal Sailing School, nautical and fishing vocational training centers, and other facilities for maritime innovation and culture. It also includes improvements to the Riba promenade and the expansion of green areas and open spaces for public recreation. Regarding nightlife, the document states that the implementation of new uses is contingent upon land availability and compatibility with existing port activity. This means there is no formal prohibition on bars, restaurants, or nightlife, but establishments may only open if they align with the Plan's objectives and respect its development phases: intermediate (2028) and final (2035), when most of the land will be available.

In addition to leisure areas, the Plan includes other key actions: the creation of underground parking compatible with the port's reorganization, the construction of storm tanks by Emaya (the municipal water company), the development of the new Oceanographic Institute, the new SOCIB headquarters, the Port Center, and the preservation or relocation of the lighthouse. The goal is to create an ecosystem between the port and the city that combines functionality, sustainability, and quality of life for citizens, according to the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB).

The Master Plan will need to be integrated with other key projects already underway or defined, such as the renovation of the seafront promenade, the Mollet breakwater project and the Sant Elm gardens, and the development of the Levante sector linked to the future Palma Culture & Innovation Bay, jointly promoted by the Government, the Palma City Council, and the Council of Mallorca. In this context, the Fishing Wharf has already been awarded, which defines and shapes part of the narrative for the transformation of the waterfront.

An intervention over 400,000 square meters

The Master Plan will have to regulate approximately 400,000 square meters of port and urban land, with a core area of over 250,000 square meters in the commercial docks. Of this area, at least 121,000 square meters will continue to be dedicated to the port's strictly commercial uses—passengers and cargo—while the remainder will be opened to a combination of port and complementary uses related to nautical activities, innovation, training, sports, culture, and maritime heritage. The document considers environmental sustainability, adaptation to climate change, and urban quality to be key priorities. It calls for a greener, more energy-efficient port, resilient to rising sea levels, and with a strong presence of green spaces, shade, and Mediterranean vegetation. It also emphasizes mobility, permeability between the city and the port, and the restoration of iconic elements, such as the historic layout of the Riba promenade.

With this competition, the Port Authority takes the first formal step in defining what the Port of Palma will be like in the future. This process will not involve immediate construction, but it will set the course for the transformations starting in the next decade, with an initial transition phase beginning in 2028 and a more ambitious horizon from 2035 onwards, when the relocation of the shipbuilding industry to the West Dock will free up large areas in the heart of the port.