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This series of photographic snapshots, taken from Vallvidrera for La Vanguardia’s Readers’ Photos, show how on a Sunday there are merchant ships anchored near the coast of Barcelona, ??but they do not moor in the port, why?
There are several reasons why merchant ships do not moor in the port of Barcelona on holidays:
1) Mooring: The price varies depending on the size of the boat, length of stay, additional services and season. In general, it ranges between €500 and €5,000 per day. Some examples:
Container ship: €2,000 – €5,000 per day.
Bulk vessels: €1,000 – €3,000 per day.
Tankers: €1,500 – €4,000 per day.
Cruises: €3,000 – €7,000 per day.
2) Other services: Loading and unloading, customs, practical.
Labor: Reduction of personnel available on holidays, which makes loading and unloading, customs clearance and other services difficult.
Efficiency: Merchant ships seek to optimize their routes and travel times. Docking and undocking involves additional time and costs.
Anchoring: Anchoring in waters outside the port is a cheaper alternative for ships that do not need to unload or load goods immediately.
Other ports: Some ships may choose to dock at nearby ports that do operate during holidays.
Cruises: Some cruise ships may dock in the port of Barcelona on holidays, especially if they have a pre-established itinerary and need to disembark passengers.
Emergencies: In case of bad weather or breakdowns, merchant ships can request permission to dock in the port of Barcelona, ??even on holidays.
In conclusion, the decision to moor or not in the port of Barcelona on holidays depends on various factors, such as operating costs, efficiency and the specific needs of each merchant ship.
