Portocolom: More money, more time — but who explains it to the fishermen?

Portocolom: More money, more time — but who explains it to the fishermen?

Restoration of the barracas becomes more expensive and is delayed further

At the quay of Portocolom you can currently hear the typical chaos of a large construction site: jackhammers, delivery vans, seagull cries and, at the edge, a few old men following the discussion from their folding chairs. The news that has been making the rounds since February 22 is clear: the port authority PortsIB is providing an additional roughly €1.37 million, bringing the total cost of the harbour renovation to about €11 million. At the same time, the construction period is being extended by four months; instead of 18 months it is now 22. The reason: the building fabric of the historic fishermen's huts — the so-called barracas — is significantly worse than initially assumed.

The bare facts are few but explosive. The figures presented show that surprising findings emerged during the work that forced an immediate rethink of planning and budget. Such surprises are not uncommon in old harbour structures. What is problematic, however, is how this surprise is now being felt locally: fishermen, small boat builders and café guests on the Passeig del Port are asking who will cover the inconveniences and how long their berths will remain restricted.

Key question: Was the condition of the barracas sufficiently investigated before the tender, and who will bear the financial and social follow-up costs? This question is not merely academic. If the structural deficiencies are so severe that additional millions are needed, one can expect the planners and the authority to explain how this happened and what consequences it will have for local use.

Critical analysis: Apparently either extensive preliminary investigations were missing or the existing reports underestimated the age and damage patterns in walls, foundations and woodwork. Possible causes are moisture damage, unnoticed salt crystallization, previous improper repairs or a simple underestimation of everyday use by the fishermen. When additional defects emerge during construction, both time and the price for specialist materials and experts increase — which accounts for the €1.37 million.

What is missing from the public discourse: previous silence about the users' predicament. The construction closures hit small operators and traditional users harder than large funders, as reporting on Palma warns that new harbor fees threaten jobs. There is a lack of a transparent breakdown of the extra costs: how much goes into structural work, how much into heritage preservation, how much into additional safety measures? And there is no clear plan for how the fishermen can continue to work without having to move their boats far away.

A daily scene from Portocolom: in front of the Café Havelí del Mar stand two older fishermen, their hands still darker from the salt than their wetsuits. 'We have our nets here, our stories,' says one, while an excavator in the background tears away an old section of wall. The conversations are practical: when can I dock my boat again? Who compensates for losses if tourists stay away because the harbour looks like this? Such questions are asked on the ground but do little good when only dry construction plans are communicated.

Concrete solutions: first, immediately publish an independent technical inspection — an external expert whose report is accessible to everyone. Second, provide a detailed cost breakdown explaining what the additional €1.37 million will be used for. Third, a social pact: temporary discounted berths for locals, support for affected businesses and a schedule with partial reopenings so the entire harbour is not dead for months. Fourth, explore funding options: EU cohesion funds, cultural and heritage grants could cover part of the extra costs, and there are broader plans such as €525 million for Balearic ports that might be relevant if measures preserve the historic character.

Additionally: phased work that keeps at least parts of the quay available to fishermen, and a transparent communication channel — for example, a weekly office hour at the town hall or a notice board at the harbour with construction progress and contact persons. And last but not least: involve local craftsmen. Portocolom has carpenters, masons and boat workers who can repair with traditional techniques; this would create jobs and preserve knowledge.

Pointed conclusion: extra millions and extra months are painful, but not inevitably catastrophic — if clarity, citizen engagement and a plan for harbour uses follow now. If the authorities only remain silent and present figures, anger grows at café tables, not acceptance. The barracas are more than rubble; they are part of everyday life here. Whoever repairs them should explain how they will do it — and those who lose out should not be left alone.

One last look toward the sea: a child throws a small plastic bottle into the water, a worker picks it up, and the crane lifts another crumbling wall into the air. Money and time have been pledged. Now common sense and an ear for those who live with the consequences daily are needed.