22 vessels, including a hybrid, will be in charge of removing waste from the coasts of the Balearic archipelago.

The Coastal Prevention and Maritime Cleaning Service kicked off the 2024 campaign on 1 May, a month earlier than usual, with the aim of maximising waste collection on the coasts of the Balearic archipelago. This year a hybrid diesel-electric boat has been introduced as part of the fleet, marking a step forward in the commitment of the Regional Ministry of the Sea and Water Cycle to adopt cleaner and more efficient technologies.

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The Coastal Prevention and Marine Cleaning Service started the 2024 campaign

This Wednesday the service was launched with the five coastal-type vessels in operation: two in Mallorca, and one on each of the islands of Menorca, Eivissa and Formentera. These first operations will be complemented next week with beach-type boats, designed for the busiest bathing areas.

The beach boats (17), known as ‘Virot’, are specially equipped to operate in shallow waters and are ideal for collecting small floating debris, commonly found less than 1/4 mile (between 20 and 300 metres) from the shore. Their safety and manoeuvrability make them ideal for working in this nearshore area, covering a total daily route of between 15 and 18 miles.

On the other hand, the ‘Pelican’ type littoral vessels (5) cover both the operational range of the ‘Virot’ and areas further offshore, up to 5 miles from the coast. These are slightly larger and faster, can carry more waste and have the capacity to cover more miles of coastline in less time, with a total daily route of between 25 and 30 miles.

The campaign will run until 30 September, with daily operations from 08:00 to 15:00 hours. In emergency situations, vessels will be available at any time of the day and can be assembled from different zones in the affected area. In addition, from 1 October to 30 April, there will always be a tow boat ready to move to emergency areas.

The distribution of the beach fleet includes one boat per home port in the following locations:

- Mallorca: Palma, Port d'Andratx, Port de Sóller, Port de Pollença, Port d'Alcúdia/Ca'n Picafort, Cala Cagada, Cala D'Or, Colònia de Sant Jordi.
- Minorca: Ciutadella, Fornells/Addaia, Maó, Cala Galdana.
- Eivissa: Eivissa (2 boats), Sant Antoni, Santa Eulària.
- Formentera: La Savina.

The coastal fleet, with one vessel per home port, is assigned to:

- Mallorca: Palma, Porto Crist/Porto Colom.
- Menorca: Maó.
- Eivissa: Sant Antoni.
- Formentera: La Savina.
These deployments are designed to ensure wide and efficient coverage, keeping the coasts of the archipelago clean and safe for its inhabitants and visitors.

Ecopelican Hybrid Vessel
The Ecopelican hybrid vessel is designed to reduce environmental impact. Equipped with a state-of-the-art diesel engine and an electric system with solar panels, this vessel can operate efficiently in the collection of floating solids without resorting to a combustion engine. In addition, the design includes an aluminium hull and features that enhance safety and comfort for the crew.  It has an insulated battery room that allows an autonomy of approximately 5 hours. It also has a shore power charger. The diesel engine achieves greater efficiency in navigation and at the same time generates charge in the batteries. The electric system and the solar panels allow the boat to perform all its functions of collecting floating solids without having to use the combustion engine. In addition, sailing in electric mode completely avoids noise pollution.


Campaign 2023
During the 2023 season, the service removed a total of 27,812 kilograms of waste, reflecting an increase in the efficiency and need for this programme. With the improvement of the fleet and expansion of operations, it is expected that this year's campaign will continue to improve these results, providing significant benefits for the environmental health of the archipelago's coasts.