By
Alex Smith |
Spanish shipping company Baleària has submitted a tender for the construction and operation of the new passenger terminal at the Port of Valencia.
Baleària’s bid is the only one that has been submitted for the infrastructure, which will be constructed in the 100,000-square-metre space previously occupied by the Unión Naval de Valencia shipyard.
The port’s board of directors have agreed on specific requirements for the infrastructure, including 45 economic specifications. The business plan should also meet a further 55 specifications.
According to these specifications, the new terminal must serve cruise traffic, regular ferry connections with the Balearic Islands and Algeria, as well as ro-ro traffic. To do so, the terminal will have at least four berths, one of which will accommodate a cruise ship of 360 metres in length and another which will cater for vessels of at least 250 metres. All berths will be equipped with shore power facilities.
In addition, the terminal must have a building for passenger arrivals, with an entrance hall, luggage storage area, security control and space for customs. There must also be space for sanitation, waiting area gateways for access from the boarding passage to the ship, a tourist office, public toilets, a crew rest room and check-in areas for cruise lines. The design must guarantee accessibility for people with reduced mobility.
The terminal must also retain the elements of the former shipyard which have been designated by the Demetrio Ribes Chair as pieces of artistic historical value, such as the water tank, the ship construction stage and two cranes.
In addition to the business plan, an environmental plan has been submitted that includes a commitment to adopt a sustainable management system and participate in joint initiatives by the port, as well as an environmental impact assessment study. Bidding companies must also submit a corporate social responsibility plan.
The concession will be granted for 35 years, which can be extended to a maximum of 50 years.