Wrecks cloud the view in the Bay of Pollensa – Municipality pays €50,000 for salvage

Municipality steps in: Wrecks in Pollensa Bay to be removed

For days, walkers along the Passeig Marítim of Pollensa have been shaking their heads: three half-sunken boats lie in the sheltered bay and spoil the view. The smell of old diesel mixes with the salt—and with the frustration of residents. On Monday, the municipality announced it would provide €50,000 so the ships can finally be salvaged.

What is there and who takes care of it?

The wrecks lie partly just under the water surface; in calm seas metal and paint shimmer through. Professional divers have already inspected the spots. A specialized company – named in the announcement – is to carry out the removal. Because not all ships can be clearly identified, the intervention will be more complicated: legal questions, proof of ownership, and who ultimately bears the damage.

Oil and fuel as an additional problem

Most of all, locals lament that fuel apparently leaked from the engines. Small oil slicks cover the water surface; fish and birds are particularly sensitive, environmentalists say. For bathers, the issue is mainly an aesthetic nuisance – but for the municipality it's also about ecological responsibility.

Why the municipality pays

The administration argues this: If owners are not reachable or do not take care of the salvage, the damage remains with the public. "It cannot be that taxpayers have to foot the bill because owners stay inactive," a spokesperson said when the announcement was made. Hence the €50,000 budget that was released to start the work quickly.

Reminders of past incidents

The problem is not new: Storms repeatedly wash yachts and smaller boats ashore. Sometimes they lie on the shore for days until authorities and private parties find a solution. Residents recall autumn storms when entire sailing yachts were beached—and later salvaged with significant effort.

What happens next?

The salvage is to begin in the coming weeks once permits are in place and the diving teams have confirmed the situation. Afterwards, possible offenders will be sought, reports checked, and, if necessary, costs recovered. This is the minimal program; in the long term, locals say there should be better control of moorings and cargoes to prevent such scenes from repeating.

A quick look at the end: It is Friday morning, the cafés at the harbor are slowly filling, and people hope the bay will soon look as it should: clean, free of litter and without the silent reminder of rusting relics. Until then, the municipality pays—and the discussion about responsibility continues.