Geographic Location

• Coordinates: 39 °/34' N 02deg/38' E

• Palma is located approximately 110 n mi south of Barcelona and 140 n mi east of Valencia, Spain on the island of Mallorca in the Balearic Islands.

• The Port of Palma is positioned at the head of the Bay of Palma on the south coast of the southwestern portion of the island. The bay is located at the southwest end of an island-wide plain which lies east of a ridge of rugged limestone mountains situated along the northwest coast of the island. Peaks in the mountains rise to a maximum height of 4,741 ft. East of the plain is a discontinuous series of low hills which do not exceed 1,800 ft.

• The port is medium-sized, and capable of accommodating several ships with drafts to 40 ft. The inner harbor is spacious and well dredged with ample maneuvering room. It is sheltered on the south and east by breakwaters, and on the west and north by land. U.S. Navy ships are assigned pierside berths along the south breakwater, Dique del Oeste. Navy ships can expect to yield berths to higher priority commercial vessels. During 2000-01, construction of an earthen platform will add 3 additional berths to the south breakwater.

• Ships may anchor in an area beyond 1600 yds bearing 151 deg from south breakwater head. All oilers, nuclear-powered ships and submarines must anchor, due to current Spanish port policy.

• The Spanish Navy has a base on the southern edge of the harbor. Ships are berthed along the southwestern backwater, called "PortoPi".

• Local weather sources include VHF channel 16, NAVTEX, and the web at http://www.aemet.es/en/nuevaweb . There are 3 nearby weather observation stations: one at the Meteorology Center, near the port passenger terminal, one on the south quay, and one at the airport, 7 miles east of the port.