Tidal bores plague port of Ciutadella

Port of Ciutadella closes after tidal bores test safety of port

Shipwrecked. A view of the destruction immediately following the first tidal bore

The first of two tidal bores damaged 42 boats, closing the port to commercial traffic. Baleària and Iscomar have both temporarily redirected all of their Menorcan ferry services to the port of Maó

Tripp Miller.Maó

A devastating tidal bore struck the port of Ciutadella Wednesday, leaving 42 boats completely or partially destroyed.

At 2050 hrs., an approaching cold front completely drained the port. Water then surged back into the port, sweeping boats into a heaping pile.

The EFE estimated damage at nine million euros. Recreational boats suffered the worst of the damage, although some commercial fishing boats were also damaged. No commercial fishing boats were completely destroyed, however, thanks to a warning issued by the Palma Regional Meteorological Centre, which reported 1.75 metre swells just 30 minutes prior to the tidal bore.

To make matters worse, another, although less severe, tidal bore struck the port of Ciutadella early Sunday morning.

At 0300 hrs., this second tidal bore came with 2.2 metre swells and without warning from the Palma Regional Meteorological Centre. However, the same centre issued a red-alert warning for 2 metre swells extending from Sunday night through all of Monday. The fact that there was no warning for Sunday morning´s rissaga leads some to question the reliablity of the warning system.

The maritime captain of Cuitadella, José Luis Ortega, explained that as of Friday, he could not permit any commercial ships to enter the port due to debris and flammable products in the water. As a result, ferries that normally arrive in Ciutadella will be temporarily redirected to the port of Maó, inconvieniencing passengers travelling to Menorca for this weekend´s fiestas of Sant Joan in Ciutadella.

Baleària and Iscomar have redirected all of their ferry services to the port of Maó. Baleària will be adding two "fast ferries" to the fleet which connects Menorca with both Mallorca and Barcelona to make up for delays due to cancellations and rescheduling.

Ortega said the water in the port currently shows a level of contamination which requires treatment. He also said it will be necessary to check the strength of the sea walls in the event of future tidal bores. Scuba divers were to begin inspecting the walls Sunday, but the water was too murky due to the second tidal bore.

President Jaume Matas of the Balearic Islands visted the disaster site Friday to offer his support to the mayor of Ciutadella, Llorenç Brondo. Matas expressed concern over the presence of commercial boats in the interior of the port, saying that they multiply the danger in a tidal bore situation.

Matas has indicated that the suspension of port activity is provisional, pending results of a study on the safety of the port.

Matas said Saturday that certain changes to the port of Ciutadella would be necessary over the next month to ensure future safety.

The Belearic government and the Island Council of Menorca met Monday to discuss the next step in reopening the port. They agreed that commercial boats on the interior of the port are a risk factor during a tidal bore, that they cannot do without commercial traffic in the port and that the results of the 15th June tidal bore will be a determining factor in deciding what action to take.

The Balearic government proposed four different jetty designs. Experts say the placement of jetties on the exterior of the port will greatly reduce damage in the event of another tidal bore.

The Island Council of Menorca, in a surprise move, proposed a 35,000 square metre canal where up to 220 fishing boats, gondolas and recreational boats could be kept out of harm´s way in the future.