Port Med Formentera is taking over the unified management of the nautical and recreational facilities at La Savina port from Monday, October 5, bringing the island's two main marina areas and dry marina under a single operator for the first time in recent years.

The company, which already manages the Poniente dock under the Marina La Savina brand, will now also take responsibility for the Levante dock and the dry marina, previously operated by Puertos y Litorales Sostenibles.

The change is being carried out through a temporary Authorisation of Temporary Occupation, or AOT, granted by the Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares while the definitive concession continues through its administrative process.

A Temporary Step Towards a Unified Marina

The temporary authorisation allows the transfer between the existing operators to take place while the definitive concession is processed.

The procedure is expected to take around eight months. Until that process is completed, the facilities will continue to operate with a layout and distribution of berths broadly similar to the current arrangement.

The move brings together the management of the recreational boating facilities at La Savina under Port Med Formentera, creating a unified management model for the marina.

The change is part of the port authority's plans to modernise the facilities through private investment, improve the stability of nautical activities and make better use of the available water surface.

A 16-Year Concession Is Planned

The definitive concession, once formally completed, is planned to run for 16 years.

The tender covers the management and operation of berths, commercial premises and parking areas within the marina area of La Savina. The concession covers approximately 28,000 square metres of water surface and 13,800 square metres of land.

However, the 16-year concession should not be confused with the temporary arrangement now coming into effect. Port Med's current control is being exercised through the AOT while the definitive concession procedure remains underway.

Plans to Increase the Number of Berths

Port Med's proposal includes a major redevelopment of the marina.

One of the main elements is an optimisation of the water surface that is expected to allow the number of berths to increase by around 30%.

The project also proposes the refurbishment of existing buildings and the construction of a new building on the area currently occupied by the APB offices and Casa del Mar.

A 90-space underground car park is also included in the proposal.

These changes are part of the longer-term project and are not all being implemented immediately with the temporary transfer of management.

Existing Facilities Continue During the Transition

For the time being, the marina will continue operating broadly within its existing physical configuration.

Port Med already manages the Poniente dock, while the Levante dock and dry marina had previously been operated separately. The new arrangement brings those areas together under one management structure.

The intention is to create a more integrated nautical and commercial operation at La Savina while the longer-term redevelopment plans move through the necessary administrative stages.

Definitive Concession Still Pending

The change in management does not mean that every element of the wider project has already been completed or that the definitive concession is fully in place.

The APB selected Port Med Formentera's proposal as the most advantageous in July 2026, following a public tender involving several competing bidders. The original tender documentation allowed for a concession of up to 16 years.

There is also an ongoing legal challenge from DECOIN, another company that participated in the tender, against the decision that placed Port Med's proposal first. The legal action does not currently suspend the administrative process.

For that reason, the current situation is best understood as a transition: Port Med is now taking operational control under a temporary authorisation, while the definitive concession and the longer-term redevelopment remain subject to the corresponding administrative process.

A New Phase for La Savina

The transfer marks a significant change for Formentera's main port.

After years in which different parts of the recreational marina were managed separately, the nautical facilities are now moving towards a unified management model under Port Med Formentera.

The immediate change is primarily administrative and operational. The larger transformation of La Savina, including the planned increase in berths, building works and underground parking, belongs to the longer-term project and will depend on the completion of the definitive concession process.

For now, Port Med's temporary authorisation brings the two docks and dry marina together under one operator as the next stage of the La Savina marina project gets underway.