Marbella’s Virgen del Carmen Sports Port to Undergo Major Renovation
The Virgen del Carmen Sports Port in Marbella is set to be reorganized to accommodate larger boats. This is one of the improvements in the project being developed by the City Council to extend the concession from the Regional Government until 2051, an additional 25 years from its current expiration at the end of 2026. A meeting with the Public Ports Agency of Andalusia (APPA) took place today.
Mayor Announces Ambitious Investment Plan
Mayor Ángeles Muñoz announced that they are preparing an ambitious investment plan for the modernization of the marina. To extend the new term until 2051, it is required to present an economic-financial study with the planned improvements. The mayor assured that this will be a large-scale project that will transform the nautical area, the dry area, commercial and leisure spaces, and mobility, with a focus on sustainability.
Project to Include Over 20 Lines of Action
The project, which is being developed with the support of a specialized consultancy, will include more than twenty lines of action. Among them are the reorganization of the 350 moorings to enable berths for larger length vessels, the relocation of the Captaincy building and fuel deposits, and improvements in the sanitation and sewerage network. Photovoltaic panels and small desalination plants will also be installed to improve energy efficiency.
Increased Demand for Commercial and Berthing Spaces
Muñoz boasted that previously only 10 percent of premises were occupied, and now there is a waiting list in both the commercial area and for berths. The director of the APPA, Rafael Merino, emphasized that the reform of the Ports Law promoted by the Andalusian Government in 2020 allows for the extension of concessions for a period of 25 years to provide greater legal security. The requirement set by the standard is that at least 20 percent of the value of the nautical enclosure is invested in improvements.
Project Well Underway with Experienced Technical Team
Merino pointed out that the project they have been presented with is well underway and has a technical team with a lot of experience. The planned schedule is for the City Council to present the required documentation in October of this year and that the renewal could be granted by next summer.
