For a little over two weeks now, the image of up to three or four boats on the regular line waiting in line to access the outer dock of the port of La Savina has become a common sight, with delays of up to half an hour, which means that they practically double the journey. These waits are repeated in the port of Ibiza.
One might think that these ‘traffic jams’ are normal due to the huge number of recreational boats that roam around es Freus at this time of year, but in reality they are a consequence of the rule approved by the Balearic Port Authority (APB) on 26 July, which prevents shipping companies from carrying out two simultaneous manoeuvres to enter and leave the ports of Pitius.
“It is not normal, it is totally abnormal,” declared Rafael Cardona, delegate of the employers’ association of maritime activities (Apeam), yesterday about these waits. “It is the result of the APB’s decision to restrict manoeuvres,” Cardona added.
In the opinion of the spokesman for the employers, this new order “does not solve the issue of safety because it does not meet a number of parameters that we have actively and passively requested, such as the installation of a control tower to organise the manoeuvres and control 100% of the traffic generated, not just commercial traffic”.
In addition, Rafael Cardona assured that “no material and human resources are provided to support” this measure, “all responsibility falls on the captains” of the liner ships. Professionals who “are getting tired of receiving illogical complaints from the port police, who decide when an entry or exit manoeuvre has been completed, according to their criteria”.
“In the end the user pays for it, the passenger who is more than 20 minutes in front of the mouth and voices their frustration with the crew. We have continuous complaints, daily and on every trip,” concluded Rafael Cardona.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.