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• 4 min de lectura
The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has today taken a definitive step towards the launch of the Bus Nàutic in Palma Bay. Fulfilling the guarantees announced a few weeks ago, the APB is activating a transitional solution for the service to start operating imminently and, simultaneously, approving a new public tender to secure the project in the long term. In this way, the port institution is making a key maritime infrastructure a reality for the first time, marking a new milestone in the city's mobility and consolidating its firm commitment to Palma.
To offer a quick and effective response, the APB has entrusted the provisional management of the service to the company Palma Cruises. The vessels of this shipping company will operate at four strategic stops in the port of Palma to guarantee this new maritime passenger transport. The service will start in phases: lines 2 and 3 (focused on cruise passenger mobility) will begin sailing on November 1st, while line 1 (regular internal line) will become operational on January 15th, 2027.
Although the bulk of the traffic that this service will decongest on Avenida Gabriel Roca comes from the arrival of cruise passengers, the project's approach seeks to offer a real and attractive mobility alternative for residents and regular users. To encourage this citizen use, a highly competitive fare structure will be applied. While the general single ticket (one way) has been set at 10 euros (18 euros round trip), the local population will have access to passes that drastically reduce the price. Specifically, a "Bono 100" (valid for one year) will be offered for 50 euros, which allows 100 trips at a unit price of 0.50 euros, i.e., 1 euro for a round trip. A "Bono 20" (valid for 6 months) will also be available for 20 euros.
This commitment to service for the city is also reflected in the extensive operating hours of Line 1 (which connects the Poniente dock, La Lonja, and Local Traffic). During high season, the main service will operate continuously from 9:00 to 19:00, extending until 24:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and holiday eves. This extended weekend schedule will greatly facilitate residents' connection with the leisure and dining options on the promenade, without the need to use a car. This authorization ensures the provision of the service for one year, extendable annually for a maximum of three years, or until the future successful bidder takes over definitive management.
In parallel, and to consolidate the service in the future, the Board of Directors has approved the terms and conditions for a new public tender that will have a maximum duration of 15 years. This new procedure begins after the previous tender had to be declared void, as a result of the formal resignation presented by the group of companies (led by TUI) last August.
The new Bus Nàutic will primarily connect the maritime stations of Dique del Oeste and Poniente dock with La Lonja dock, bringing passengers closer to the city center without the need to use the road. In addition, the project includes the creation of an unprecedented maritime line that will link the ports of Palma and Portitxol.
The launch of this initiative represents the implementation of a pioneering service in the port of Palma, conceived as a strategic measure by the APB to decongest road traffic and promote sustainability. This reduction in vehicles is essential during large cruise ship calls, which require the transfer of a large volume of passengers in a very short time.
As a sign of its firm environmental commitment, the APB requires in the new tender that all vessels have low NOx emission technology. With the activation of these two lines of action—the provisional and the definitive—the APB reaffirms that the future of the Bus Nàutic is fully guaranteed, providing Palma Bay with agile, efficient, and environmentally friendly maritime transport.
