Formentera is set to receive a new coastal surveillance station at the La Mola Lighthouse, with a SIVE radar system being installed as part of an effort to strengthen maritime monitoring around the island.

The project forms part of Spain's Sistema Integrado de Vigilancia Exterior, known as SIVE, the coastal surveillance network operated by the Guardia Civil.

The installation is intended to improve the detection of vessels approaching the Balearic coastline, particularly in an area where maritime arrivals have increased in recent years.

New Surveillance Station at La Mola

The new SIVE station will be located at the Faro de la Mola on the eastern side of Formentera.

The location provides a high vantage point over the surrounding Mediterranean waters, making it suitable for a coastal surveillance installation.

The Spanish Ministry of the Interior's procurement documents specifically identify the La Mola Lighthouse as the location for the new SIVE station.

The project was processed as an emergency procurement, with the Interior Ministry citing the need to reinforce surveillance of the Balearic coastline.

€1.83 Million Contract

The contract was awarded to Atos IT Solutions and Services Iberia S.L.

The official contract value is €1,832,533.21 excluding VAT. The corresponding amount including VAT is €2,217,365.18.

Seven offers were received for the contract.

The project is co-financed through European Union funding under the Internal Security and Border Management framework.

Six-Month Execution Period

The contract has an execution period of six months.

However, the available information does not establish that the new station is already operational.

Reporting from June indicated that works had not yet started at that stage. There has been no later official announcement identified confirming the exact date on which the new radar will become operational.

For that reason, the installation should currently be described as a project being implemented rather than an already functioning surveillance station.

How SIVE Works

SIVE is designed to provide long-distance maritime surveillance.

According to the Guardia Civil, its radar sensors detect vessels at a distance and transmit information for analysis either locally at the sensor station or remotely from command and control centres.

The wider system can combine radar information with other surveillance technologies and communications systems.

This allows authorities to detect and monitor maritime traffic and coordinate the appropriate response.

A Strategic Location

La Mola is positioned at the eastern end of Formentera and is one of the highest coastal points on the island.

The lighthouse itself stands on the edge of a high cliff, giving the site extensive visibility over the surrounding sea.

The location is therefore intended to improve the ability to identify vessels approaching Formentera from offshore before they reach the coastline.

Part of the Wider Balearic Surveillance Network

The new installation will become part of the wider SIVE network already used by Spanish authorities in other coastal areas.

Ibiza already has SIVE surveillance capabilities, while Formentera has historically lacked a permanent fixed station of this type.

The addition of La Mola is intended to extend the system's coverage to the smaller Pitiusa island.

Maritime Arrivals Are One Reason for the Project

The Interior Ministry's procurement documents say the new station is intended to address an increase in arrivals to the Balearic Islands and specifically cite the need to reinforce surveillance.

The system is therefore being developed in a context where small boats carrying people have increasingly reached the islands.

The Government's stated justification for the project is to strengthen monitoring of the maritime area. Detection technology can also support the coordination of responses once a vessel has been identified.

Surveillance and Search and Rescue

Although the system is being introduced in the context of border and coastal surveillance, early detection can also have implications for maritime safety.

The Guardia Civil describes SIVE as a system used for the detection and monitoring of maritime activity, while officials in the Balearics have previously highlighted the potential for earlier detection to assist emergency responses.

The radar itself is not a substitute for search-and-rescue services, but earlier identification of vessels can give authorities additional information when coordinating an intervention.

Why La Mola Matters

The La Mola area is one of the most prominent points on Formentera's coastline.

Its elevated position and eastern location give the site a wide field of view over the sea.

That geographical advantage is one of the reasons it has been selected for the new surveillance station.

The installation will add a new layer of monitoring to an island where maritime arrivals can occur at different points around the coastline.

The Project Dates Back Several Years

The need for a permanent SIVE installation on Formentera is not new.

Calls for a radar on the island have been made for several years, including discussions in Spain's Congress about extending the surveillance system to Formentera.

The current project represents the latest stage in that process, with the installation now backed by an awarded contract.

What Happens Next?

The immediate stage is the installation and commissioning of the new equipment at La Mola.

Once completed, the station is expected to form part of the Guardia Civil's wider SIVE network and provide additional surveillance of the waters surrounding Formentera.

The exact date on which the system will enter service has not been officially confirmed.

For now, the important development is that the installation contract has been awarded and the project has moved beyond the planning and procurement stages.

A New Layer of Surveillance for Formentera

The new La Mola station will give Formentera its own fixed SIVE surveillance installation, extending Spain's coastal monitoring network to the island.

With a contract worth more than €2.2 million including VAT and a six-month execution period, the project represents a significant investment in maritime surveillance infrastructure.

Until the installation is confirmed as operational, however, the radar should be regarded as an incoming capability rather than an active one.

Once commissioned, it will provide the Guardia Civil with an additional long-distance maritime detection point covering the waters around Formentera.