Port Med Formentera has taken control of the remaining nautical facilities at La Savina port in Formentera, bringing the Levante basin and dry marina under the same management as the Poniente basin.

The change took place on Monday, October 5, under a temporary Authorisation of Temporary Occupation, or AOT, granted by the Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares.

Port Med, which already managed the Poniente basin through Marina La Savina, now also operates the Levante basin and dry marina, previously managed by Puertos y Litorales Sostenibles.

The move marks the beginning of the planned unified management model for the nautical-sports facilities at La Savina.

However, the arrangement is currently temporary. The definitive concession, planned for 16 years, is still going through the administrative process.

Three Workers Are Not Retained

The management change has also resulted in three employees from the Levante basin losing their positions.

According to information recorded during the handover, the previous operator had 11 workers at the Levante basin.

Port Med has retained eight of them, while three were dismissed at the moment the new company took possession of the facilities.

The three workers are identified as the basin's contramaestre, or foreman, and two sailors.

The situation should not be interpreted as the dismissal of all existing marina staff. Port Med was already operating the Poniente basin, while the reported job losses concern three workers from the Levante operation.

A Temporary Management Arrangement

The takeover is taking place through an Authorisation of Temporary Occupation, allowing Port Med to operate the facilities while the definitive concession is processed.

This distinction is important because the company has not yet received the final 16-year concession in definitive form.

The Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares selected Port Med Formentera's proposal as the most advantageous in the public tender in July. The future concession covers the management and exploitation of mooring spaces, commercial premises and parking areas at La Savina.

The AOT provides a transitional framework so that management can change while the remaining administrative procedures are completed.

A Legal Challenge Remains Open

The concession process is also facing a legal challenge.

DECOIN, one of the companies that competed for the concession, has filed a contentious-administrative appeal against the tender process.

The legal proceedings are therefore continuing while Port Med operates under the temporary authorisation.

The existence of the appeal does not mean that the court has cancelled Port Med's current temporary operation.

From Separate Operators to One Manager

The change ends the system under which different sections of La Savina's nautical facilities were operated separately.

Port Med already had responsibility for the Poniente basin. With the latest handover, it now manages the Levante basin and dry marina as well.

The intention behind the unified model is to create a single management structure for the port's recreational boating facilities while a larger redevelopment project is processed.

The area covered by the future concession includes approximately 28,000 square metres of water surface and 13,800 square metres of land.

A Larger Redevelopment Is Planned

The future project goes beyond simply changing the operator.

Port Med's proposal includes the redevelopment of existing facilities and the construction of a new building in the area currently occupied by Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares offices and the Casa del Mar.

Plans also include an underground car park with 90 spaces and changes to the commercial areas around the port.

The proposal includes measures related to water quality, energy consumption, renewable energy and electric-vehicle charging infrastructure.

The planned transformation cannot yet be treated as completed, however. The current operation is taking place under the temporary AOT while the definitive concession and the associated administrative and environmental procedures continue.

The Future 16-Year Concession

The original public tender established a future concession period of 16 years.

Port Med's winning proposal carries a financial commitment of approximately €64.6 million over those 16 years, including payments to the APB and around €16.66 million in committed investment, according to reporting on the July award.

That long-term figure should not be confused with the company's current legal position at La Savina.

At present, Port Med is operating under the temporary occupation authorisation.

A New Phase for La Savina

The arrival of Port Med marks a significant change for the port of La Savina, which is Formentera's principal gateway and an important centre for recreational boating.

For now, the immediate change is operational rather than physical.

The Levante basin, Poniente basin and dry marina are being brought under a single management structure, while the larger redevelopment remains ahead.

The first day of the new management also brought a more immediate consequence for the existing workforce, with eight of the 11 Levante workers retained and three employees leaving their positions.

The longer-term future of the port will depend on the completion of the concession process, the outcome of the legal challenge and the environmental and administrative approvals required before the proposed redevelopment can move forward.

Formentera therefore enters a new phase at La Savina, but the final version of the unified marina is still some way from becoming a reality.