Portocolom traditional boat association seeks permanent moorings

The Associació de Barques Tradicionals de Portocolom is calling for permanent and affordable moorings to preserve Mallorca’s traditional wooden fleet. The association warns that recent port reorganizations in the Sa Bassa Nova 1 and es Babo areas may jeopardize this maritime heritage.

Under new regulations, authorizations for Sa Bassa Nova 1 include an annual fee of 2,862.31 euros (including VAT) for the use of a slipway shed and adjacent mooring space. However, vessels are only permitted to occupy the water for four months, from June 1 to September 30. In the es Babo area, the same fee applies but occupancy is limited to six months. These spaces are classified as seasonal occupation areas rather than permanent moorings.

The association notes that these conditions represent a radical shift from the previous model, which allowed vessels to remain at sea year-round under social economic conditions. The new restrictions force owners to either find alternative moorings for the remainder of the year or keep their boats out of the water, a situation particularly difficult for wooden vessels. The reorganization affects approximately sixty traditional boats currently afloat in Portocolom, a location that holds a significant portion of the region's traditional nautical catalog.