Balearic Islands maritime authorities face legal action and crackdown on illegal charters

The Public Prosecutor's Office in the Balearic Islands has filed a criminal complaint against the senior management of PortsIB over the handling of buoy fields. The complaint follows a longstanding dispute with the Association of Mediterranean Sailors (ADN Mediterráneo), which alleges that PortsIB executives – including manager Francisco José Villalonga, General Director of Ports Antoni Mercant and two technical staff – engaged in the illegal establishment of new ecological buoy fields while a €5.8 million tender remained suspended. The association claims the actions constitute contract fragmentation and unlawful use of public funds, citing a recent minor contract for buoy installation and an extraordinary extension of over €314 000 for eight buoy sites.

In parallel, the Balearic Government has intensified inspections at the Port of Andratx to curb illegal boat charters. The operation, overseen by the Conseller of Sea and Water Cycle Juan Manuel Lafuente, the mayor of Andratx Estefanía Gonzalvo and Ports and Maritime Transport Director General Antoni Mercant, targeted vessels operating without proper authorisations. The crackdown resulted in €462 000 in fines and reinforced a broader strategy to ensure that all maritime services comply with safety and regulatory standards.