View source for Gibraltar Port Authority

{{short description|Agency in Gibraltar Port}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name     = Gibraltar Port Authority
|type            =
|nativename      =
|nativename_a    =
|nativename_r    =
|logo            = Gibraltar Port Authority Logo.png
|logo_width      = 180
|logo_caption    =
|seal            =
|seal_width      =
|seal_caption    =
|picture         = The Port of Gibraltar (Aerial View from the North West).jpg
|picture_width   = 240px
|picture_caption =
|formed          = 1806
|preceding1      =
|preceding2      =
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|dissolved       =
|superseding     =
|jurisdiction    = [[British Gibraltar Territorial Waters]]
|headquarters    = [[North Mole, Gibraltar Harbour]], [[Gibraltar]]
|coordinates     = {{coord|36.148453|-5.365174|display=inline, title}}
|motto           = Gateway to the Mediterranean
|employees       =
|budget          =
|minister1_name  = [[Neil Costa|Neil F. Costa]]
|minister1_pfo   = Minister for Tourism, Public Transport, and the Port
|minister2_name  =
|minister2_pfo   =
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|deputyminister1_name  =
|deputyminister1_pfo   =
|deputyminister2_name  =
|deputyminister2_pfo   =
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|chief1_name     = Bob Sanguinetti
|chief1_position = <br>[[Chief Executive]]<br>[[Captain of the Port]]
|chief2_name     =
|chief2_position =
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|agency_type     =
|parent_department =
|parent_agency   =
|child1_agency   =
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|keydocument1    = [http://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/articles/2005-14o.pdf Gibraltar Port Authority Act 2005]
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|website         = {{URL|http://www.gibraltarport.com/}}
|footnotes       =
|map             =
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}}
The '''Gibraltar Port Authority''' develops and manages the [[Port of Gibraltar]].
==History==
{{see also|History of Gibraltar|Port of Gibraltar}}
On 19 February 1706, [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain]] granted [[Free Port]] status to Gibraltar.<ref>Lieutenant Colonel George James, [https://books.google.com/books?id=2J5CAAAAIAAJ A popular history of Gibraltar, its institutions, and its neighbourhood on both sides of the Straits, and a guide book to their principal places and objects of interest], ''Garrison Library Printing Establishment'', 1981.  p. 6.</ref> In the early 18th century, Gibraltar was principally a [[garrison]] where commerce was negligible.
Following the 1805 [[Battle of Trafalgar]], Gibraltar was established as a port for international trade. The government-administered Gibraltar Port Authority was founded in 1806.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
In 1823, the first [[steamship]] appeared in the Gibraltar Port which gradually evolved into a bunkering port.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
The independent Gibraltar Port Authority was established in 2005 by the Gibraltar Port Authority Act.<ref>[http://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/articles/2005-14o.pdf Gibraltar Port Authority Act 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610031658/http://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/articles/2005-14o.pdf |date=10 June 2012 }}, ''Gibraltarlaws.gov.gi'', 2005</ref> The Act of [[Gibraltar Parliament|Parliament]] also provided for the transfer of some responsibilities from the [[Government of Gibraltar]] to the Authority. Members of the Authority were appointed, effective 1 June 2006.<ref>[http://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/articles/2006s066.pdf Notice of the constitution of the Gibraltar Port Authority] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420091333/http://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/articles/2006s066.pdf |date=20 April 2012 }}, ''Gibraltarlwas.gov.gi'', 2006</ref> In 2005/2006, GPA's total revenue was £583,900, and its total expenditure £519,816.59.<ref name="gibraltarship annual">[http://www.gibraltarship.com/download-file/146 Annual report 2006/2007], ''Gibraltarship.com''</ref>
In July 2016, the GPA offloaded [[Tomahawk (missile family)|Tomahawk missiles]], [[Spearfish torpedo]]es and [[Harpoon (missile)|Harpoon]] anti-ship missiles from a British nuclear-powered submarine that was damaged after colliding with a merchant vessel in the port of Gibraltar. The British authorities did not provide extensive information on this operation, which created tension with Spanish authorities.<ref>Jesus A. Canas, [https://elpais.com/elpais/2016/07/28/inenglish/1469693613_221922.html British Navy unloading weapons from nuclear submarine in Gibraltar], ''Elpais.com'', 28 July 2016</ref> In August 2016, the GPA signed a deal with [[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] to study the implementation of LNG bunkering infrastructures in the port.<ref>[https://shipandbunker.com/news/emea/192005-port-of-gibraltar-and-shell-sign-lng-bunkering-agreement Port of Gibraltar and Shell sign LNG Bunkering Agreement], ''Shipandbunker.com'', 26 August 2016</ref>
In February 2017, the GPA impounded the super yacht ([[A (sailing yacht)]]) of Russian billionaire [[Andrey Melnichenko (industrialist)|Andrey Melnichenko]].<ref>Rupert Neate, [https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/feb/20/worlds-largest-sailing-yacht-impounded-in-gibraltar Superyacht impounded in Gibraltar], ''Theguardian.com'', 20 February 2017</ref><ref>Joey Millar, [https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/769733/russian-billionaire-super-yacht-seized-gibraltar-andrey-melnichenko Russian billionaire has £340M super-yacht SEIZED by Gibraltar in row over fees], ''Express.co.uk'', 20 February 2017</ref> In March 2017, the GPA expressed its concerns regarding the [[Brexit]] because its fuel reserves are located in the port of [[Algeciras]], the Spanish coastal city facing Gibraltar.<ref>[http://chronicle.gi/2017/03/brexit-could-severely-impact-rocks-maritime-sector/ Brexit could ‘severely’ impact Rock’s maritime sector], ''Chronicle.gi'', 1 March 2017</ref>
==Description==
[[File:Gibraltar map-en-edit2.svg|thumb|Map of [[Gibraltar]]]]
===Main functions===
* Monitor and control all vessel movements for British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW) in support of port operations and navigational safety;
* Provision and monitoring of port security including provision of security controls within restricted and controlled zones;
* The licensing of Port operations;
* Search and Rescue in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW);
* Pollution prevention and response;
* Monitoring and control of ship-to-ship and bunkering operations within BGTW.
From 1997 to 2007, the GPA went from 27 registered ships to 236.<ref name="gibraltarship annual"/>
===Activities===
All operational matters including navigational safety and the smooth running of the Port are overseen by the Captain of the Port. The principal services provided within Gibraltar Port are bunkering (supply of fuel to vessels) and cruise liner calls.
For the bunkering, the fuel is delivered by bunker barge to a vessel anchored in the [[Bay of Gibraltar]] or delivered to vessels alongside a berth where multiple shore fuelling stations are located.
Gibraltar is a popular tourist destination for cruise liner calls due to its location at the entrance to the Mediterranean. The vast majority of all cruise liner calls to Gibraltar come alongside the primary quayside, the North Mole, Western Arm, which makes access into town convenient for passengers and crew alike. Approximately 270,000 to 300,000 cruise liner passengers transit through the port annually.
Other services include the supply & provisions for transiting vessels, crew changes, a Gibraltar-Morocco ferry service, ship repairs (see [[Gibdock]]), lub-oils delivery, slops/waste discharge, class surveys, underwater cleaning/survey, Ship-to-Ship transfers.
===Surveillance===
The GPA employs a high specification [[Vessel Traffic Service]]s (VTS) system. Supported by multiple radars and high-powered cameras, positioned in strategic locations around the [[Rock of Gibraltar]], the VTS centre monitors the surrounding waters with high levels of accuracy on a 24/7 basis.
==Governance==
*Chairman of the board: [[Neil Costa]], Minister for Tourism, Public Transport and the Port (since December 2011)
*Chief Executive and Captain of the Port: Bob Sanguinetti (since 19 May 2014)
The Port's office is located on the [[North Mole, Gibraltar Harbour|North Mole]], at the northern end of [[Gibraltar Harbour]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.gibraltarport.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/articles/2005-14o.pdf Gibraltar Port Authority Act of 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610031658/http://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/articles/2005-14o.pdf |date=10 June 2012 }}
{{Agencies and Authorities of Gibraltar}}
<!--- Categories --->
[[Category:Port authorities]]
[[Category:Water transport in Gibraltar]]
[[Category:Economy of Gibraltar]]
[[Category:History of Gibraltar]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Gibraltar]]
[[Category:1806 establishments in Gibraltar]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1806]]