Mooring quays for three boats of 130, 100 and 60 metres in length

Son Blanc jetty should be in operation by middle of 2010

Son Blanc. Government to finance the 63 million euro plan

Some modifications have been made to the original plans to increase the project´s safety aspect, such as increasing the jetty´s length to 465 metres

Christine M. Watterson.Maó

The Balearic Government is to assume sole responsibility for financing the construction of the Son Blanc jetty, work on which will start next summer. The estimate of 67.3 million euros covers the new commercial port, the extension to Cala en Busquets and the reorganisation of the interior of Ciutadella harbour.

The project has been put on public display for one month in the headquarters of Ports de les Illes Balears in Palma and in Ciutadella Town Hall so that citizens and interested parties can consult the plans and lodge any objections they may have to the scheme. Once this period has ended the necessary reports will have to be produced and the relevant perrmissions and licences obtained from various authorities. The project will then be put out to tender and, because of the size of the scheme and the high costs involved, European companies will be able to participate. The Balearic Government estimates that the first stone will be laid between May and July of next year and that construction will take three years to complete. Thus, if all goes according to the timetable, Ciutadella´s new jetty should be in operation by mid 2010.

After years of debate and disagreement, the project now on display has the approval of all the authorities concerned and the emphasis is now on completing the much-needed jetty as quickly as possible.

Modifications

Following two months of studies and a wave-simulation test in the Madrid laboratory of Siport XXI, some modifications have been made to the original design to increase the safety aspect. Instead of the 395-metre long construction originally envisaged, the jetty will now measure 465 metres and will be built 50 metres further out from the shoreline.

The jetty will be curved in shape and will have a protective breakwater to its seaward side, some 30 metres distant, which will lessen the force of waves. A viewing point will be constructed at the beginning of the breakwater with a small public car park for visitors.

Another modification is that the jetty will now have three mooring quays, instead of the two originally proposed, to accommodate vessels of 130, 100 and 60 metres in length. The planners say that the infrastructure will allow two boats to operate simultaneously.

Ferry terminal

The ferry terminal will be constructed on land with some 7 metres of the construction being below ground level in order to reduce the visual impact of the project when seen from Son Oleo and Son Blanc. The construction will occupy 50,000 sq.m. with the passenger services building covering some 2,000 sq.m.

A levelled area will provide a car park for vehicles embarking and disembarking, with a capacity for 350 cars and 60 lorries. A public car park will be built at the access to the terminal, together with parking zones for coaches and taxis.

The new commercial port will be connected to the city centre by an extension to the Ronda Sur.

Protection

The architects claim that the jetty will offer a 95% guarantee that current-day boats will be able to operate in poor weather conditions, with only westerly winds affecting the jetty which they will hit at right angles. Ferries should be able to embark and disembark passengers without problems in winds of up to 20 or 25 knots.

Cala en Busquets to offer 110 moorings

The scheme to enlarge the marina at Cala en Busquets includes the construction of a breakwater, 30 metres in length and 6.2 in width and projecting above sea level by some 2.5 metres, which will partially block the mouth of the bay and offer protection to five pontoons which will have moorings for 110 boats of between 6 and 8 metres. Work on this has already started and is expected to be finished by 1st November.

Also included in the project is the construction of a three-storey building capable of storing 180 boats over winter. This will be built below road level to reduce its visual impact on the surrounding countryside and will involve the excavation of 60 metres of the cliff face. A new car park is also to be provided with space for 70 vehicles.

The Cala en Busquets seabed is to be dragged to a depth of 3.5 metres (and that in the inner port to 5 metres) to help to reduce the effects of the "rissaga" or tidal bore which periodically affects the harbour.

This project and the Son Blanc jetty will allow the present commercial key to be used for sports and fishing purposes.