Letter from the president - July 2014

The month of June was very intensive when it comes to news from the sector. To start with, the latest edition of the Superyacht Cup offered a wonderful display  of the best superyachts in action, apart from making Palma the focal point of international yachting for a few days. On the other hand, we had a meeting with the local government and other entities to push forward the implementation of a quality nautical training on our islands. At national level, we are drafting a report with ANEN about starting a collective agreement for the recreational nautical sector in Spain.

Palma Superyacht Cup 2014 took place from 18th to 21st of June in the bay of Palma. 26 sailing yachts between 24 and 50 meters of length battled for the seasoned trophy which has been disputed in our waters for 15 years already. Further than the sport, the SYC brings an added value to our islands which is difficult to quantify. On one hand, it attracts large yachts that require  maintenance and repairs before and after the competition, benefiting the local businesses. The sailors and other professionals that come to the event make good use of the abundant supply of hotels, restaurants and entertainment of our islands. For  the local residents and sailing enthusiasts it is a great opportunity to get a close look at these majestic yachts. Even more so thanks to the lookout terrace on top the new Moll Vell building, which offers a unique view over the port. Additionally, the Superyacht Cup boosts the nautical tourism, as it efficiently introduces for many people the unique opportunities for recreational yachting in the archipelago.

We have been working for a few weeks already on a draft for a study that will serve as a starting point for a creation of a collective agreement for the workers of the recreational nautical sector in Spain. As a basis for the study, ANEN carried out a nationwide survey last month, in which many of us participated. The collected information will allow  an “x-ray” of the sector to be made in order to find out the different necessities to be taken into account when composing the future collective agreement. We would like to emphasize how important it is  for our sector to have  our own collective agreement, as it will help us to be recognized as an industrial sector in our own right. We will keep you informed on the progress.

Balearic Islands represent 16% of the recreational boat market with 367 registrations and an increase of 31%

The Balearic Islands have taken a 16% share of the recreational boat market in the first half of the year with 367 registrations, which means a 31% more than in the same period in 2013.

 

The Balearic Islands, Barcelona and Cadiz stay at the top of the recreational boat market. Barcelona is in the second lace, with a 11,75% share of the market and an increase by 42,3% of registrations, going from 189 to 269 by June this year.

 

Cadiz occupies the third place with a 7,3% market share and an increase of registrations by 30,2%, up to 168 compared to the 129 in the same period last year.

 

In total, 2.289 vessels were registered in Spain during the first half of the year, which means an increase by 14,9% compared to the 1.992 vessels registered up until June last year, according to the information given to the Spanish Nautical Trade Association by the Directorate General of the Merchant Navy.

The rehabilitation work for Marina Magaluf will get started in 10 days

The rehabilitation work in the Marina Magaluf area will get started in 10 days time, according to the developer of the project, the hotelier Pedro Pascual during the visit of the President of the Balearic government, José Ramón Bauzá, in the different tourist areas of Calvià.

 

Just to recall, the project of Viva Hotels in Magaluf has been declared of regional interest and plans a construction, in two different stages, of 5 new hotels and more than 15.000 m2 of commercial zone.Read the complete article in Última Hora.

Annual General Meeting of EBI: achieved goals and new challenges for the European nautical sector

On the 19th of June, the Board Meeting and Annual General Meeting of EBI took place in Brussels. EBI (European Boating Industry), which ANEN also belongs to, is the highest representative of the nautical sector at the European level.

In the meeting participated the Secretary General of ANEN, Carlos Sanlorenzo, who is a member of the Board of EBI since June 2013, and Lara Hidalgo, responsible for the legal consultancy of ANEN. They had an opportunity to transfer to the participating members of the European Parliament the reality of our sector and the need for support from the European institutions for its future development.

During the meeting were debated, amongst other things, both the goals already reached as well as the future challenges of the sector in Europe, for which EBI already has some plans, developed jointly between its member associations.

Among the already achieved goals were presented: the publication of the new directive for the recreational vessels (for which all the amendments and proposals by ANEN have been taken into account) in December last year; the adoption of the new directive over tugboat inspections (in order not to be an additional burden for the towing services) in March; the approval by the European parliament, in April, of the stance defended by our Association in the report over CO2 emissions coming from the ships.

Ports IB desides unanimously not to go ahead with the planned change to indirect management of the regional ports

The Board of Directors of the Balearics Ports (Ports IB) unanimously approved this morning not to go ahead with the planned transfer into indirect management of the regional ports. The meeting was chaired by the director general of the Ports and Airports, Antonio Deudero, also the manager of the regional port entity, David Gómez, participated in the meeting.

With this decisión, the Board of Directors agreed to paralyze the administrative process of authorization of concessions to occupy and to exploit the port installations of Colónia Sant Jordi, Cala Bona, Porto Cristo, Fornells, Sant Antoni de Portmany and Andratx.

This paralyzation takes place after the Ministry of Tourism and Sports deems appropriate to wait for the results of a study over the development of demand for moorings in the Balearics – currently being processed – to be able to analyze the weaknesses, threats, strengths and opportunities of port installations in the archipelago.

All this with an aim to chart the necessities of both sporting and recreational, as well fishing and comercial sectors.

Additionally, it is worth pointing out that currently the parliament is processing the modification of the Law 10/2005, of 21st of June of Ports IB, which contemplates the creation of a new General Plan of the Ports as an instrument of ordainment of the ports and their installations.

COLLABORATION AGREEMENT WITH THE ISLAND COUNCIL OF MENORCA

Another of the points discussed  was the collaboration agreement with the island council of Menorca – through SPEI – when it comes to prevention and extinction of forest fires, rescue and protection services.

Regarding this, the Board of Directors honoured the agreement by assigning to the island council of Menorca two inflatable vessels with towing capacity, apart from providing the human resources for the development of the required activities of vigilance.

The Parliament rules on the draft modification of the Law of the Balearic Ports

The Parliament ruled today, during the celebration of the Tourism Commission, on the draft of the modification of the Law of the Balearic Ports. 

The text, according to the coordinator of the presentation, the Member of Parliament from the Popular Party, Carlos Veramendi "has been agreed upon with the nautical and maritime sector of our community" and "will contribute to the development of the nautical industry and provide solutions to various current problems".

On the other hand, Mr Veramendi commented that since the approval of the Law in 2005, "the circumstances have changed to call for a modification", such as the adaptation to the Statute of Autonomy or the need for an organizational restructuring in the ports in order to apply criteria for austerity, to avoid duplicities or to reduce the number of senior positions.

When it comes to the participation of the involved sectors, Veramendi pointed out that "they have been able to express their concerns and to propose improvements to the Draft of Law". As a result, Veramendi quoted the representatives of the sector themselves, who have expressed their "satisfaction" with the modification, and stated that "the solutions proposed in the law will make the management of the ports easier in the current economical climate".

Memorandum over the sea related business sectors in Spain

With the approval by the Board of CEOE on the 11th of June 2014, conclude the review work of the "Memorandum: the business sectors related to the sea in Spain", carried out by the Council of the Sea of CEOE as a part of the process of updating the first edition of this document, published in 2012. The Nautical Trade Association of the Balearic Islands (AENIB) has collaborated in the planning and drafting of the project.

The report evaluates the activities of the sectors subject to analysis, among which are the maritime transport, the ports and port services, fishing, fish farming, and the industries related to production and marketing of seafood and other products of the sea. It also analyses the novelties of the recent years that have affected  the above mentioned sectors in legal, economic and social aspects.

On the other hand, the reach of the study has been extended to include the sub-sectors of recreational yachting and diving.

The document follows the pattern of the first edition and analyses aspects like the economical and social dimensions of the sectors (employment, invoicing, market, etc.), the evolution over the recent years and development potential, the national and international regulation of each of the sectors, the weaknesses, threats, strengths and opportunities (SWOT-analysis) of each of the sectors, as well as priorities and proposals to improve competitiveness. 

Download the PDF in spanish