Algeciras: focus on social reality

Q: Are there any lessons that you believe visiting Port Authorities can learn from the Port of Algeciras Bay’s societal integration initiatives?

A: What has come to be known as “portcity relations” are the present result of the confrontational atmosphere that prevailed between ports and cities in the 80s when the popular myth that port cities “prefer to live with their backs to the sea” – and therefore with their backs to their ports – started to spread. This is really when popular pressure came to a head, as residents started to demand that the abandoned port areas, which suddenly cropped up as a consequence of the maritime transport revolution, be regenerated. If we take a look at the Port of Algeciras, our port’s initiative to integrate itself socially into the fabric of our city has a specific added value, because – as we are a port with a huge volume of container (3.3 million TEUs), passenger (5.2 million) and vehicle (1.5 million) throughput – the Port Authority of Algeciras Bay (APBA) has actually returned some of these derelict port areas to the city for popular use. These areas – for instance the Cornisa Promenade and Centenary Park – have a great spatial and atmospheric worth that blends the man-made port panorama with the natural beauty of the Bay and Strait of Gibraltar.

Q: What threats (if any) do you believe could impact on the direction and momentum of your initiatives up to 2020?

A: The potential threats to future port-city developments could come mainly from new demands made on security issues within our port premises (the ISPS Code), as well as the fact that the world financial crisis may lead people to believe that these issues are of a lesser import when Port Authorities in general contemplate their Investment Plans. Nevertheless, port security has to be understood as a challenge we must face so that it is reduced to just another simple factor to be taken into account as we strive to meet popular needs: certainly, when we start projecting on another “portcity” intervention. While on the subject of financial cutbacks, we are going to have to consider the overall value of investing in social matters by embracing our city – by which, I mean making a significant contribution to deepening the relationship between the two administrations – and thereby strengthening the “city” character of our port. City ports are places that are full of opportunities: this is an idea that we should implant into the minds of our city’s residents.

Q: Looking back to the beginning of your societal integration initiatives, is there anything you know now, which you would have amended?

A: Despite being more oriented towards container, passenger and freight traffic, the Port Authority of Algeciras Bay (APBA) has been incorporating port-city issues into our plans since 1997, with a series of specific interventions of various sizes and scopes to try and help solve some of the more important aspects in our coastal boroughs, such as Algeciras, Tarifa and La Linea de la Concepcion. On the subject of evaluating and suiting APBA initiatives to a timescale, it must be said that we have tried to mould ourselves to the opportunities that have come along; however, it goes without saying that this has all been done within a framework whose aims are to plan and reuse the areas where our port and city come into contact with one another: both from on a social support and formal budget level, whose aims are not only concerned with mere urban-planning or landscaping, but rather with the wider social reality.

Q: How can you specifically quantify the past, current and future results of your societal integration initiatives?

A: To try and quantify the results of our societal integration initiatives, we made an opinion poll among local Algecirans in 2006 and found out that 60% were aware of and actually showed a positive opinion of such initiatives. However, we understand that these issues are always open-ended, both because of the constant changes seen in port activities, and the new realities and needs that are going to come to the fore in the 21st Century. Sooner or later, these issues are all going to carry across to our port’s “contact zone”, the area we should concentrate on to meet present needs and the future aspirations of our residents.