The Board of Directors of the Balearic Port Authority has approved a port ordinance aimed at improving the quality of water in its ports, published in Official State Gazette No. 64 of March 15, 2025. The regulation expressly prohibits the use of open-loop exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers) within port waters, and requires operation in closed or hybrid mode, with waste being delivered to authorized onshore facilities.
This initiative is part of the strategic objectives for sustainability and reduction of the environmental impact of port activity, and is legally based on the Revised Text of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy (RDL 2/2011), as well as applicable environmental regulations, including the MARPOL Convention and Royal Decree 817/2015 on the quality of surface waters.
The ordinance stands out for its preventive approach and for applying the precautionary principle in response to potential cumulative effects of pollutants that have not yet been fully assessed, especially in environmentally sensitive marine areas such as those along the Balearic coastline. It also strengthens operational control over vessels calling at APB ports, requiring specific declarations and documentation on the systems used and waste management practices.
This is a significant example of local-scale environmental port regulation, with potential deterrent effects on certain polluting practices, reinforcing coherence between port planning and marine environmental protection objectives.