The APB promotes a new sustainable and integrated port model in Palma

A new port model that promotes sustainability, innovation, and port–city integration in Palma.

The Balearic Ports Authority (APB) has published the tender specifications for the Master Plan for Port–City Integration at the Port of Palma, an ambitious project that will transform the port’s layout and role, positioning it as a key driver of the island’s economic, social, and environmental development. The transformation will cover an area of 400,000 square meters and is based on a solid, shared, and widely agreed vision, the result of an extensive dialogue process involving more than 60 economic, social, institutional, and civic stakeholders.

The reorganization of the Port of Palma aims to create a new port model seamlessly integrated with the city, promoting sustainability and improving residents’ quality of life. It is built around four strategic pillars. The first—diversifying freight and passenger traffic, seeks to optimize port operations and ensure proper synchronization with the logistics chain. Each year, the APB manages nearly 18 million tonnes of goods and around 7 million regular-line passengers at the Port of Palma, an essential activity for supply and connectivity in the Balearic Islands. These operations will be concentrated mainly on the Western Breakwater, Poniente Pier, and the Commercial Piers.

The second pillar focuses on concentrating the nautical industry, strengthening the port’s role as a sector benchmark, with the Western Breakwater as the hub of nautical industrial activity. This sector includes around 800 companies, generates annual revenue of €1.1 billion, and employs nearly 5,000 people, making it one of the port’s main economic engines.

Cruise activity will be centralized at Poniente Pier. With more than 2 million passengers and around 500 calls annually, the Port of Palma is preparing to offer a smoother, more pleasant experience for both visitors and residents.

Port–city integration is another cornerstone of the project. The Commercial Piers, Old Pier, and Contramuelle–Mollet will be transformed into accessible public spaces, encouraging civic use of the waterfront. The area will feature extensive green spaces, recreational areas, and venues for social, cultural, and educational activities. Notably, the Dual Vocational Training Center for Nautical–Fishing studies will be relocated, allowing a significant increase in capacity to meet demand that currently exceeds supply by fivefold. A second building is reserved for university programs. The project also includes a new municipal sailing and paddling school—the first of its kind in Palma—conceived as both a teaching and high-performance training center.

Innovation and knowledge are also central to the plan. The Commercial Piers and Old Pier will host facilities such as the headquarters of the Balearic Oceanographic Center, the new SOCIB headquarters (already operational), a nautical innovation building known as the Sand Box, and a knowledge-transfer center.

Regarding heritage, the project предусматриes the recovery of the historic Riba promenade, demolished in 1965, and the stone-by-stone relocation of the Riba lighthouse to its new site at the end of the avenue, part of an effort to preserve the port’s historical memory and return a significant piece of identity to the city.

The entire area will include community outdoor leisure spaces, extensive green areas, and open zones designed for public enjoyment. The reorganization of the Port of Palma will be guided by sustainability criteria, efficient mobility, preservation of the water surface, and connections with other urban spaces, advancing toward a green port fully integrated into the city.

The tendering process begins today with the submission of the specifications to the State Procurement Platform and the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). Five candidates will be selected to develop a technical and financial preliminary project, with the final draft expected before summer 2026.

The transformation of the Port of Palma is already underway through several initiatives marking the start of this reorganization: the remodeling of the Paseo Marítimo, modernization of Club de Mar facilities, creation of a new industrial area on the Western Breakwater, and renovation of APB facilities. Work is also ongoing on the new Maritime Museum of Mallorca and the reorganization of Portitxol.

With this project, the Port of Palma will consolidate its position as a sustainable and innovative port model, contributing to the development of the city and the island as a whole.