The outer port of Ciutadella turns 15 and begins a new stage of modernization

Passenger, vehicle and freight traffic has multiplied since the opening of Son Blanc, and the port is now entering a new phase of modernization and sustainability.

Ports de les Illes Balears (PortsIB), the public body under the Ministry of the Sea and the Water Cycle of the Government of the Balearic Islands, is commemorating this month the 15th anniversary of the opening of the outer port of Ciutadella. Since it came into operation in mid-May 2011, the infrastructure has established itself as one of the main gateways to Menorca and a strategic driver for maritime connectivity, freight transport and the island’s economic development.

Over these fifteen years, the port of Son Blanc has undergone constant growth, both in activity volume and operational capacity. Passenger traffic has practically tripled, rising from 238,420 users in 2011 to more than 643,000 in 2025. Vehicle movements have also multiplied, increasing from 48,645 to more than 200,000 per year, while the number of lorries has risen from 14,675 to more than 36,000.

The growth in maritime traffic has turned the outer port of Ciutadella into an essential infrastructure for guaranteeing Menorca’s supply needs and strengthening mobility between islands and with the mainland. At the same time, the volume of goods transported now exceeds 597 million kilos annually, consolidating the port’s logistical role.

Since it opened, the Son Blanc breakwater has improved maritime operations in Ciutadella and responded to the progressive increase in regular passenger and freight traffic. The infrastructure has also become a strategic asset for Menorca’s economy, particularly in ensuring the year-round supply of products and goods.

Fifteen years after its opening, the port is now entering a new stage marked by modernization and sustainability. PortsIB is currently promoting a strategic investment to improve the port area’s operations, with actions that will adapt the facilities to the continued growth of maritime traffic and to new environmental requirements.

Among the main planned actions is the construction of the future permanent passenger terminal, a long-awaited infrastructure since the opening of the breakwater, which will allow better service to be provided to the hundreds of thousands of passengers who use the port each year. A second access ramp for road traffic will also be built, increasing safety and improving internal circulation within the port area, together with a functional reorganization of embarkation and disembarkation zones to optimize maritime operations.

The project also includes the creation of a new logistics area for lorries next to the breakwater, a key measure to improve efficiency and promote better coexistence between port activity and the urban environment.

These improvements will be complemented by the implementation of the OPS system (Onshore Power Supply, or Cold Ironing), an initiative financed with European Next Generation EU funds that will allow vessels to connect to the electricity grid while berthed, avoiding the use of auxiliary engines. This measure will help reduce pollutant emissions, noise and fossil fuel consumption, moving towards a more sustainable and efficient port model.

Fifteen years after its inauguration, Son Blanc continues to transform itself to meet the needs of present and future Menorca, consolidating its position as a strategic infrastructure for the island’s maritime connectivity and for the Balearic Islands’ port system as a whole.