Salvamento Marítimo pays tribute in Ibiza to the heroes of the “Mallorca” steamship rescue

The event was attended by the Government delegate, the Director General of the Merchant Marine and the Director of Salvamento Marítimo, along with relatives of those involved in the 1913 rescue.

The Botafoch Passenger Terminal hosted an institutional tribute and civic recognition ceremony honoring the heroes of the steamship Mallorca, one of the largest historic rescue operations recorded along the Balearic coastline. The event brought together maritime and government authorities with relatives of those involved in the events to commemorate the 1913 rescue, in which the efforts of local citizens prevented a humanitarian tragedy.

The ceremony was presided over by the Maritime Captain of Ibiza and Formentera, Luis Gascón Rius, and was attended by the Government delegate in the Balearic Islands, Alfonso Rodríguez Badal; the Director General of the Merchant Marine and president of Salvamento Marítimo, Ana Núñez Velasco; and the Director of Salvamento Marítimo, José Luis García Lena.

The official commemoration highlighted events that took place 113 years ago in January, when a violent storm caused the steamship Mallorca to run aground on the Sa Llosa reefs off Santa Eulària, putting the lives of the 150 people on board at risk. The determined intervention of local fishermen, who braved extreme weather conditions in small boats, enabled every passenger to be rescued. The ceremony welcomed three families descended from those fishermen, who have preserved this legacy of solidarity and service.

During the ceremony, the authorities presented commemorative plaques to the families and screened an audiovisual documentary about the rescue. The film highlighted how the fundamental principles of providing assistance and safeguarding human life at sea, which motivated those fishermen, remain at the heart of the operational mission of the Spanish Maritime Safety and Rescue Society (SASEMAR) today.

The tribute concluded with a visit to the Salvamento Marítimo vessel Marta Mata, which was berthed at the terminal pier.