Reversal of the Port Authority in Ibiza: it rectifies and there will not be a single dry dock at the Commercial Docks

The Port Authority has abandoned its plan to centralize boat repair work in a single dry dock and acknowledges that it cannot assume the 30,000 m² requested by the PIMEEF.

In the second version of the Special Plan for the Port of Ibiza, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has rectified the initial idea from the first version and has decided to maintain dry docks in several nautical and sports areas, instead of concentrating all activity in the Commercial Dock, an area that was already anticipated as insufficient to meet all the planned uses: fishing dock, freight traffic, and traffic with Formentera.

From 30,000 m² requested to 9,000 m² viable

The change is not as substantial as the nautical employers' association (PIMEEF) requested in its allegations. Business owners had requested more square meters than planned for boat maintenance and repair areas and that there not be a single dry dock, or at least a single concession.

The request was to reserve up to 30,000 m² to meet the actual demand for boat docking and maintenance. Business owners even warned that the first version of the special plan put the nautical industry at risk.

However, the APB dismisses this area as unviable. It does specify that the dry dock at the Commercial Dock will have 9,000 m², leaving the remaining operations distributed among other areas. Thus, there will be a small dry dock in the current Port Náutic Ibiza concession, another, also for small boats, in Marina Ibiza, and finally, the one in Marina Botafoch will remain as the second large dry dock in the port of Ibiza.

The dockworkers, for their part, had warned of the saturation that the commercial docks would face, facilities that are already saturated.

This is how the dry docks look by area

Port Nàutic Ibiza (Area 3)

A small strip of dry dock will be maintained for Port Nàutic Ibiza for repair and maintenance work on small boats, restricted to user demand and with the priority of better integrating the area with the promenade and opening up the port to the city.

Marina Ibiza (Area 5)

The Special Plan provides that Marina Ibiza may retain limited spaces for the docking of small boats, always within nautical-sport use. The exact area will depend on availability and coexistence with leisure and dining venues.

Marina Botafoc (Area 6)

The existing dry dock at Marina Botafoc is confirmed, with a travel lift and workshops as a key element for nautical maintenance activities. The APB recognizes its strategic role in absorbing part of the demand that cannot be accommodated in the Commercial Docks.

Commercial Docks (Area 4)

This will be the main dry dock, but with a maximum capacity of approximately 9,000 m², compared to the 30,000 m² requested. It will have to coexist with freight traffic, fishing, and the Formentera terminal, so it will not be able to concentrate all activity, as initially planned.

No final total figure

The Special Plan does not define a consolidated figure for the dry dock area, adding all spaces. The final reserve will depend on each concession and technical project, maintaining flexibility to adapt to actual demand.

SOURCE: https://lavozdeibiza.com/actualidad/marcha-atras-de-autoridad-portuaria-en-ibiza-rectifica-y-no-habra-un-unico-varadero-en-los-muelles-comerciales/