The competition to manage one of the most prominent nautical facilities in Ibiza Port is approaching a decisive stage, with the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) expected to convene its Contracting Committee in the coming days.

Two candidates are competing for the concession: Club Náutico de Ibiza (CNI), which operated the facilities for almost a century, and Puertos y Litorales Sostenibles, the company currently managing the marina under the Port Nàutic Ibiza name.

However, the process has not yet reached the final award stage. The APB must first determine whether the administrative documentation submitted by both candidates meets the tender requirements and allows them to progress to the technical evaluation.

The authority has confirmed that the tender remains under administrative processing, although no official date has yet been announced for the next committee meeting.

Two Candidates Submitted Bids

The tender attracted two offers before the submission deadline of 7 September 2026.

Puertos y Litorales Sostenibles has operated the marina since May 2024, following the end of the Club Náutico de Ibiza's long-standing management of the facilities.

The CNI has now entered the competition to regain the concession, setting up a contest between the former operator and the current manager.

During the opening session on 9 September, the APB's committee identified administrative documentation that both candidates needed to correct or clarify. As a result, the technical proposals could not be opened at that stage.

Both companies subsequently submitted the requested documentation. However, completing the correction process does not automatically mean that their bids have been formally admitted.

Questions Remain Over the Club Náutico de Ibiza Bid

One of the issues attracting particular attention concerns the financial documentation submitted by the Club Náutico de Ibiza.

The CNI's application includes financial support from other entities, including Club Nàutic Sant Antoni, to help meet the economic solvency requirements of the tender.

Questions have been raised about whether the participation of Club Nàutic Sant Antoni received the necessary approval under its internal rules and whether the authorisation satisfies the requirements established in the tender conditions.

The tender rules require the use of external financial capacity to be approved by the competent body of the entity providing that support.

If the APB concludes that the required approval was missing when the bid was submitted and that the issue cannot be corrected, the CNI could face exclusion from the competition.

However, no official decision excluding the Club Náutico de Ibiza has been announced. Its participation therefore remains subject to the APB's assessment.

Puertos y Litorales Also Had to Correct Its Documentation

The current operator, Puertos y Litorales Sostenibles, also faced administrative requirements during the initial review.

The issues concerned the company's financial documentation and the provisional guarantee submitted with its application.

The company was asked to provide updated annual accounts and correct the documentation relating to its guarantee. It subsequently submitted the requested material.

The APB must now assess the documentation from both candidates before deciding which bids can proceed to the next stage.

A Concession Worth Up to 25 Years

The competition concerns the management and operation of a nautical-sports facility covering approximately 33,352 square metres of public port land and water space at the Ribera-Poniente quay.

The future concession can run for up to 25 years and includes a planned investment of approximately €20 million to modernise the facilities.

The investment is divided into two phases. The first involves around €15 million during the initial two years, including the reorganisation of the marina's water area, construction of a breakwater and renovation of existing buildings. A further €5 million is planned for a second phase, subject to approval of the Port's Special Plan.

The tender also places particular emphasis on nautical sports, especially sailing and canoeing. Requirements include developing sports schools, establishing federated competition teams, organising events and providing support for athletes.

The facilities must also offer at least 170 berths for vessels between six and 15 metres in length.

1 January 2027 Target Adds Pressure

The timetable is becoming increasingly important because the current temporary authorisation held by Puertos y Litorales Sostenibles is due to expire on 31 December 2026.

The objective is for the successful candidate to take over the facilities from 1 January 2027, provided the administrative process is completed in time.

The next Contracting Committee meeting will therefore be an important step. Its initial task is to determine whether the two candidates satisfy the administrative requirements and can proceed to the technical evaluation.

Until that assessment is completed and the subsequent stages of the tender are resolved, the identity of the marina's next concession holder remains undecided.