The Association of Users and Moorers of Port d'Andratx has called for a demonstration on July 12 at 18:00. They claim that mooring prices have skyrocketed by up to 600% following the change of concessionaire.
Port d'Andratx will be the scene of a protest at sea this Sunday, organised by the Association of Users and Moorers. Small boat owners claim that the new concessionaire, IP3M, has multiplied the price of moorings by up to 600%, which they describe as an "expulsion" of the port's residents.
The mobilisation, scheduled for 18:00, will involve a sail to the red lighthouse and then to the offices of Ports de les Illes Balears (Ports IB), where participants will sound the horns of their boats as a sign of protest. The association criticises that, despite promises of dialogue, the Administration has not responded in two months.
A Long-standing Conflict
The root of the problem dates back to 2003, when a legal battle began over the concession of the port. Ultimately, IP3M took over management, which had been in the hands of the Port d’Andratx Sailing Club until 1968. With the change, around fifty boats that were considered base vessels were reclassified as transient, which skyrocketed the fees.
The affected individuals claim that the company informed them of the changes with only 20 days' notice, just before summer, when finding a mooring in Mallorca is nearly impossible. "There are a lot of empty moorings because people cannot afford the new prices. They prefer to leave them empty than charge less," says Toni Oliver, spokesperson for the association.
The Government Under Scrutiny
The association has held meetings with both IP3M and Ports IB to seek a solution. According to Oliver, the concessionaire conditioned any reduction on a decrease in the fee paid to Ports IB. "They told us that if Ports lowered the fee, they could lower the prices, but with the current fee, they could not reduce the rates," he explains.
Ports IB requested a month to study the case, but six weeks have passed without a response. "On June 12, we requested another meeting and since then we have received no reply," Oliver laments. The association accuses the Government of facilitating the expulsion of small boaters by not curbing the price increases.
For the residents of Andratx, the port is not just a leisure spot, but an access point to the sea that is part of their identity. Many moorers are fishermen or families who have been mooring their boats in the port for decades. With the new fees, they fear they will have to abandon boating or seek moorings in other ports on the island, which are often more expensive or further away.
This Sunday’s protest aims to highlight a situation that, according to the organisers, threatens to expel residents from the port in favour of larger vessels and tourists with greater purchasing power. "We do not want a port just for megayachts; we want a port for everyone," Oliver asserts.
The event is at 18:00 at Port d'Andratx. The organisers expect massive participation from boats and ask attendees to bring flags and banners. After the protest, the association is considering further actions if the Government does not respond. For now, administrative silence remains the only response.
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