Institutional
Who we are
Spain is the country in the European Union with the longest coastline, and its port system is located on one of the most important maritime routes in the world. The state-owned port system includes 46 ports of general interest managed by 28 Port Authorities responsible for providing infrastructure and leading the port offering. The coordination and efficiency control of the Port Authorities is the responsibility of the Puertos del Estado Public Body, which is under the Ministerio de Transportes y Movilidad Sostenible, with implementing the Government's port policy.
The synergy between Puertos del Estado and the Port Authorities drives the transformation of the Spanish port system towards a more competitive model to meet future challenges. This is a shared step with a common route: advancing towards safe, innovative and sustainable ports.
Competencies
Puertos del Estado is governed by the Texto Refundido de la Ley de Puertos del Estado y de la Marina Mercante, approved by Real Decreto Legislativo 2/2011, de 5 de septiembre.
In accordance with the Texto Refundido de la Ley de Puertos del Estado y de la Marina Mercante, Puertos del Estado has the following competencies, under the dependency and supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility:
a) The implementation of the Government's port policy and the coordination and efficiency control of the state-owned port system, as provided in this law.
b) The general coordination with the different bodies of the Administración General del Estado that establish controls in port areas and with the modes of transport within the scope of state competence, from the perspective of port activity.
c) The training, promotion of research, and technological development in matters related to the economy, management, logistics, and port engineering, as well as other areas related to activities carried out in ports, including the development of measurement systems and operational techniques in oceanography and marine climatology necessary for the design, operation and management of port areas and infrastructures.
d) The planning, coordination, and control of the Spanish maritime signaling system, and the promotion of training, research, and technological development in these areas.