Earlier this morning, Consell de Formentera president Alejandra Ferrer gathered in the Port de la Savina control room with Francesc Antich, the top-ranking official at the Balearic Port Authority (Autoritat Portuària de Balears, APB). Also on hand at the encounter were local vice-president Ana Juan, mobility chief Rafael González, primary sector chief Josep Marí, APB director Jorge Nasarre and APB’s delegate on Eivissa and Formentera, Ignacio Revilla.

Formentera’s representatives reiterated previous calls to respect a June 2020 agreement between APB, the regional government and Consell de Formentera by reducing ferries on the Pine Islands line. They also called for urgent compliance with a maritime safety report drafted by the Harbour Master’s Office which sets the maximum number of simultaneous manoeuvres in the harbour at two.

Moreover, the island’s decision-makers insisted it was crucial that, in size and individual capacity, watercraft adapt to fit the port and not vice versa. “The capacity of each individual craft must be compatible with our island’s capacity to receive people and vehicles”, said the president.

Peak-hour saturation makes for a situation in la Savina harbour that President Ferrer described as both unsustainable and potentially dangerous. She underscored the intense strain that so many passing boats place on the environment of ses Salines reserve, which sits square in the path of the Eivissa-Formentera line.

“We need the responsible agencies to work together not only to maintain the same high quality service as always, but to keep the port and inter-land route safe, and keep the reserve sustainable and protected”, said Ferrer.

Heavy maritime traffic
Meeting attendees got a feel for day-to-day goings-on in the harbour and for the intensity of boat traffic there. They also witnessed the overlap that can occur in regular services. Eivissa ships offering day-trips to Formentera add an extra layer of complexity, as do recreational craft arriving at and leaving the marinas.

For their part, APB reps spoke about new control and information systems in the harbour. Formentera officials voiced discomfort over noncompliance with the 2020 agreement and insisted key areas of concern be incorporated into a new proposal that will be submitted to the plenary assembly.

Officials from the local and regional governments agreed to hold meetings with the Balearic ministries of mobility and environment and the Harbour Master’s Office to move forward with studies and steps to guarantee the full array of requested measures.

2 July 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Department of Mobility is pleased to report that tomorrow until 12 July applications will be accepted for three seasonal taxi permits on Formentera as part of the 2021 Seasonal Taxi Action Plan.

In the first offer, applicants must be in possession of a standard driver’s licence. The two permits included in the second offer are open to individuals with at least 5 months paid related experience from 2018 to 2019.

Exceptional circumstances
Given the exceptional situation stemming from covid-19:
-The current plan will only remain in force summer 2021.
-To keep the required level of investment low, eligible vehicles must be less than eight years old.
-The Consell will rebate the standard €1,000 monthly permit fee in full.

Mobility councillor Rafael González said Formentera Taxi Union Association was key to consensus on the plan, and added that more seasonal permits could follow based on demand. Awardees will be determined in a drawing, with future permits granted by additional drawings from the same list if permit quotas are raised.

Seasonal taxi permits are valid for two months from date of issue and start of driver service or, in case of extension, until 30 September. Drivers can operate taxis from 9.00am to 9.00pm and may also present a needs-based request to work extended hours. There are 25 drivers on Formentera’s regular, year-round fleet of taxis.

formentera.eco
Councillor González insisted the premise of the plan —“strengthening public transport to support islander and tourist mobility”— was made all the more urgent by two separate considerations: fewer vehicles on local roads (8% from 2019 to today) and a ban on pirate taxis and ride-hailing services from 24 June to 7 September.

Complete information is available by clicking here and following the link to the Balearic Islands gazette.

1 July 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera