The winning concession bid was submitted by the UTE (temporary joint venture) formed by Nova Ática SA, Indeisla SL, and Route Pont SL, three firms with strong regional and technical expertise. This consortium outscored bids from other major contractors, including Rover Maritime and Marina del Mediterráneo Este, due to its robust financial plan and commitment to sustainable port development.
Under the concession agreement, the UTE is responsible for investing in construction, maintaining public access, and managing the PortoSenso marina operations for the next 35 years, with an option to extend for an additional 15 years.
The marina redevelopment plans 2025 call for a comprehensive modernization of the site. Highlights include:
- A new leisure and dining zone with elevated architectural standards.
- Dredging of the harbour entrance to improve navigation.
- Reinforced quays and floating docks for greater safety and durability.
- A waste management and recycling centre to meet environmental sustainability standards.
- Shoreline stabilization and erosion control structures.
While the number of berths is expected to remain the same, improvements will better accommodate luxury yachts, including vessels over 20 meters in length, to meet the growing demand for premium moorings and the overflow from Mallorca and Ibiza.
The impact of the PortoSenso redevelopment on the local community will be significant. Local officials hope that the transformation will boost tourism, create long-term jobs, and inject new life into the surrounding urban area. There’s potential for PortoSenso to become a hub for nautical tourism and sporting events, and contribute to a more vibrant coastal economy in Altea.
However, concerns have been raised about the privatization of coastal access. The Generalitat emphasizes that PortoSenso will remain a publicly accessible marina, combining free and paid services.
The timeline for the PortoSenso improvements spans several years, with the various works to begin in phases. An exact construction start date hasn’t been confirmed, but the completion of major works should be before 2030.
One of the key objectives is PortoSenso’s integration with Altea’s urban area, in order to make the port more walkable, accessible, and socially connected. The new design aims to link the marina with residential and commercial zones, and in particular the PortoSenso real estate developments that have been stalled for years.
The strategic location, high-end appeal, and renewed government support, could position PortoSenso Altea as one of Spain’s top boutique marinas. The concession’s success will depend on careful execution, transparent community engagement, and delivering on its promise of economic revitalization with sustainable infrastructure.
