The cash-strapped Spanish state has obviously discovered the buoy fields as a source of income, writes Balearic Islands area guide author and YACHT correspondent Bernhard Bartholmes in a recent report from the island. After initially talking about one euro per metre of boat, the fees now announced are steep: boat length up to 8 metres: 13.31 euros, up to 15 metres 29.04 euros and up to 20 metres 48.40 euros.
Around 12,500 overnight stays are said to have been accounted for at the buoys in 2012, despite the fact that the fields have only been laid out late and in some cases not completely since 2011 due to economic problems on the part of the Spanish authorities.
Following the elections in 2013, the Balearic government now wants to make greater use of the fields set up to protect the Posidonia seagrass beds. In May 2013, the new ministry responsible announced in the media a project that has been reduced in scope to 316 buoys and is now subject to a fee, and set up a new website for booking moorings from 1 June 2013. There is clearly a lack of political will on the part of the government to make the project financed by the European Community available to users free of charge again.
The booking process runs via a Website with payment by credit card. Upon confirmation, you will receive the number of the buoy for mooring by e-mail. Bookings can be made until 6 pm on the day of arrival. Arrival at the reserved buoys must take place between 12 noon and 6 p.m. If you arrive later, you must expect the buoy to be reassigned. On the day of departure, the site must be vacated by 11 am. The buoys are colour-coded for the different boat sizes: Red: up to 8 m, White: 8-15 m, Orange: 15-25 m, Green: 25-35 m
If no buoy is available, it is permitted to anchor over a sandy area, but not on the sea grass meadows. However, according to the authorities, only some of the buoys had been installed on 22 July 2013.
In recent months, there have been fierce protests in the media, associations and from local Mallorcans against the high mooring fees without any service.
Buoy fields Life Posidonia Balearics (destination October 2013)
Zones ∑ up to 8m 8-15m 15-25m 25-35m
Majorca
Cala Blava 44 15 29 - -
Pollença 46 8 17 21 -
Sa Dragonera 17 2 15 - -
Ibiza/Formentera/Espalmador
Caló de' Oli 48 4 11 8 25
Ses Salines 35 8 27 - -
S'Espalmador 35 5 30 - -
Menorca
Isla de Colom 33 22 11 - -
Cala Fornells 53 36 9 8 -
A transfer of maritime rights from some municipal harbours to Club Nàutics was also announced. From summer 2013, these harbours will be allowed to install new moorings themselves, such as pontoons, or use water areas. In these natural harbours, larger, private and chargeable buoy fields have been installed at the expense of free mooring areas.
A few more details about the private buoy fields:
Portopetro: Buoy field in the outer harbour. The marina office in the harbour is responsible for the services of the buoy fields and guest berths for transit guests. Buoy users can use the showers and toilets in the marina office for a fee. Portopetro was taken out of the state project Life Posidonia in 2013, in return Club Nàutic has installed 30 numbered mooring buoys in the harbour for a fee. A club employee comes with the dinghy and collects the fee against a receipt at the berth.
Moor with your own line to the ring of the buoy line.
Red for vessels up to 12 m; white for vessels up to 15 m
Yellow for vessels up to 20 metres
Fees per night in Euro:
Up to 7.99m 10.00
Up to 9.99m 15.00
Up to 12.99m 20.00
Up to 15.99m 25.00
Service for buoy users
- Use of the new dinghy jetty on the outside of the breakwater
- Waste disposal on board
- Use of the showers/toilets in the club office for a fee
5-20 euros depending on the length of the boat
- Bunkering of water, fee depending on the length of the boat
Up to 8 metres 10 euros
Up to 15 metres 20 euros
Up to 25 metres 25 euros
- Wi Fi connection in the bay at the berth,
2 hours 1 euro
24 hours 5 Euro
Portocolom:VHF Ch 09, Tel. 971 824658
administració@cnportocolom.com
Mooring reservations and buoys for guests in transit are only possible by radio.
Call: Seaman Club Nàutic Portocolom
Buoy field and new floating dock in the outer harbour
Installation, management and maintenance of Club Nàutic
New floating dock and buoys
As part of the privatisation process, Club Nàutic Portocolom has installed a new floating dock with 34 moorings south of the Moll and 21 mooring buoys in the north-east and 26 mooring buoys in the south-west of the bay. The buoys can be used from 1200 hrs to 1200 hrs the following day. After that, you must leave the berth if no further reservation has been made. The reservation of the buoy after 1800 hrs expires if no later arrival has been agreed.
Mooring fees:
Floating jetty, Pantalan Flotante
10m boat 35,00 Euro per day
12m boat 40,00 Euro per day
15m boat 60,00 Euro per day
Buoy fees:
10-12m vessel 24 Euro per day
15 metre vessel 35 euros per day
20 metre vessel 56 euros per day
Including tax G5 and 21% IVA
The crews of both service facilities can use the washrooms and showers in the club office.
Port de Andratx
Club de Vela
Mooring/Buoy reservation
Tel.971-671721,info@cvpa.es
VHF channel 16/09
Safety in the outer harbour
The huge natural harbour is generally considered unsafe in autumn and winter, partly due to our own experience.
During a storm and swell in autumn 2009, the former floating islands, which were attached to the harbour as a marina replacement, broke free from their moorings and overturned, causing damage. On New Year's Eve 2009/2010, several yachts at anchor were damaged in hurricane-like storms that lasted until 6 January 2010; people were also injured. A yacht was also put ashore in 2012.
Buoy field in the outer harbour
Installation, management and maintenance Club Nàutic
The new mooring system in the harbour basin has put an end to chaotic anchoring and restored safety in the harbour. The buoys that had been placed "wildly" by private individuals in the past were removed by the authorities.
The current 38 mooring buoys in the north buoy field and 29 buoys in the south buoy field are managed, inspected and maintained by the Club de Vela. The buoys can be used from 12 noon until 12 noon the following day. After this time, you must leave the mooring if no further reservation has been made. The reservation of the buoy after 6 pm expires if no later arrival has been agreed. Berth holders can use the service facilities at Club de Vela.
Fees: (approximate values)
12m boat length: 27.83 euros incl. tax
15m boat length: 48.40 euros incl. tax
No-anchoring zones
North-eastern part of the harbour, in the area of the buoys and access channel.
Islas de Cabrera
Nature conservation authority
Palma
Tel.+34 971 177641
Office hours: 0700-1500 hrs.
Office in Cabrera National Park, Es Port
Tel.630 982363, No VHF radio
There are 50 mooring buoys for overnight stays in the main bay in the Port de Cabrera nature reserve.
Buoy reservation : http://www.caib.es/govern/sac/fitxa.do?estua=1224〈=ca&codi=1510318&coduo=1224
Click on Reserves, www.fondeos.caib.es
One of the most important rules is the absolute ban on anchoring in the bay.
Buoy colour code
White for vessels up to 15 metres
Orange for vessels up to 25 metres
Red for vessels up to 35 metres
Fees per night:
Up to 12 metres 15 euros
12-15 metres 24 euros
15-20 metres 40 euros
20-35 metres 129 euros
The charges will be debited from your credit card.
Mooring period:
July and August 2 nights
Rest of the year 5 nights
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
