The APB tenders the nautical bus of Ibiza’s port for a 15 year period

The objective is consolidating a more sustainable and efficient internal maritime transport model oriented to service for the passengers.

On their last reunion, held yesterday, June 25th, in Palma, Administrative Board’s Balearic Portuary Authority (APB) has agreed on approving the contract bases and the clauses that have to rule the public contest for the management, in concession regimen, of the nautical bus of Ibiza's port. The duration of this concession will be of 15 years.

The service, that has been lent since 2023 through temporary authorizations of a year-long, enters now a new phase that will allow its consolidation on long-term and the development of improvements in the operative as well as in the environmental sustainability. The bidding aims to guarantee a more efficient and accessible service with a lesser environmental impact, in line with the strategy of decarbonization and sustainable mobility that promotes the APB.

The nautical bus service offers a priority maritime connection between the dock to the Botafoc’s Commercial Docks and the North’s Counterspring, making the passengers’ transferring easier from spots of mooring to the centre of the city. The minimum frequency of the service during the scale of cruisers will be of 20 minutes, and the schedule will be adjusted to the arrival and departure timetables of the boats. In addition, the bidders will offer other lines inside the son 1 of waters of the port, making use of the mooring points established in the contracts.

The contest expects the tenderer to have at least three ships, with a minimal total capacity of 150 passengers, and that the motors fulfill the international normative of IMO Tier III emissions. Clean technologies usage and suggestions that reinforce the environmental commitment of the port will be positively valued.

In addition, the dealer will have to keep the facilities, manage the waste, guarantee the accessibility and have modern sales systems and tickets’ control. The service will include physical spots of attention to the users and lockers, in addition to digital solutions for access and purchase.

The annual amount of the occupation tax is fixed in almost 8.000 euros, while the activity tax will be 4% on the business volume. 

With this contest, the APB fixes an internal maritime model that reduces land traffic, improves the users’ experience and contributes to the sustainability objectives of the portuary system.