Harbor Protection

• The inner harbor of the Port of Palma is well protected from all hazardous weather, but the roadstead is exposed and, as discussed below, has limited vulnerability to specific wind and wave conditions.

• The location of the port on the south coast of Mallorca protects it from hazards created by winds from west-southwest clockwise to east-southeast. North to northeast winds reach the harbor area by passing over the plain which spans the island northeast of the port, but even the strongest of the winds, the Mistral, causes no problems in the harbor.

• The port is exposed to winds from southeast through southwest, but the wind alone does little to affect port operations. The inner harbor is essentially unaffected, but small boat runs to/from the anchorage are impacted. When winds are force 5 (17-21 kt) or greater, with minimum swell, ships can maneuver so that boating operations can be conducted in their lee. Such operations are precluded, however, when higher swell is present because the ships must head into the wind and waves and the lee effect is lost.

• Hazardous weather (as distinguished from wind and waves) at Palma include autumn thunderstorms, hail and waterspouts. Thunderstorms on Mallorca occur 10 times/year, hail 2-3 times/year, and nearby waterspouts 3-4 times/year.

• The location of the Port of Palma affords good protection from hazardous wave conditions from west-southwest clockwise to east-southeast. Waves from southeast to southwest can reach the port, but pose only limited problems. Because of its breakwater system, the impact of waves from any direction on the inner harbor is minimal; normal operations continue without interruption.

• The roadstead is located outside the protective confines of the breakwaters, and is exposed to waves from southeast to southwest. Although sea and swell can attain heights of 10 to 13 ft, ships can remain at anchor. Harbor authorities keep a constant watch on waves in the bay.

• The following table provides the shallow water wave conditions at the two designated port map points when deep water swell enters the harbor. An example follows the tables.

  Table 1 Shallow water wave directions and relative height conditions versus deep water period and direction.

  FORMAT: Shallow Water Direction and Wave Height Ratio (shallow water/deep water)

  PALMA POINT 1 (near inner harbor entrance) : depth 35 ft

  Deep Water Period (sec)	6	8	10	12	14	16
  Direction (deg) 150	150 0.3	150 0.3	155 0.4	160 0.4	170 0.3	180 0.2
  180	155 0.3	155 0.4	160 0.5	160 0.7	180 0.5	180 0.2
  210	185 0.4	170 0.4	160 0.7	170 0.6	175 0.8	185 0.6
  240	190 0.2	190 0.1	195 0.2	195 0.2	195 0.2	195 0.2

   

  PALMA POINT 2 (Fleet Anchorage) : depth 75 ft

  Deep Water Period (sec)	6	8	10	12	14	16
  Direction (deg) 150	170 0.8	170 0.8	175 0.5	175 0.4	180 0.4	185 0.4
  180	180 0.8	185 0.8	190 0.8	190 0.7	195 0.5	190 0.2
  210	210 0.9	210 0.9	210 0.9	210 0.9	205 0.9	205 0.9
  240	210 0.8	210 0.7	220 0.5	225 0.7	225 0.5	225 0.4

    

  Example:

  For a deep water wave condition of: 8 feet, 10 seconds, from 210deg The approximate shallow water wave conditions are: Point 1: 5-6 feet, 10 seconds, from 160deg Point 2: 7 feet, 10 seconds, from 210deg

  Table 2 The following table presents shallow water climatology as determined from deep water wave propagation. Percent occurrence, average duration or persistence, and wave period of maximum energy for wave height ranges of greater than 3.3 (1m) feet and greater than 6.6 (2m) feet by climatological season.

  PALMA POINT 1:

  >3.3 Feet (1m)	WINTER NOV-APR	SPRING MAY	SUMMER JUN-SEP	AUTUMN OCT
  Occurrence (%) Average Duration (hrs) Period Max Energy (sec)	1 11 10-11	<< 1 NA NA	<< 1 NA NA	1 12 10
  >6.6 feet (2m)	NOV-APR	MAY	JUN-SEP	OCT
  Occurrence (%) Average Duration (hrs) Period Max Energy (sec)	NA NA NA	NA NA NA	NA NA NA	NA NA NA

   

  PALMA POINT 2:

  >3.3 Feet (1m)	WINTER NOV-APR	SPRING MAY	SUMMER JUN-SEP	AUTUMN OCT
  Occurrence (%) Average Duration (hrs) Period Max Energy (sec)	9 12 9-10	9 13 9-10	3 17 9-10	10 10 9-10
  >6.6 feet (2m)	NOV-APR	MAY	JUN-SEP	OCT
  Occurrence (%) Average Duration (hrs) Period Max Energy (sec)	1 12 11	<< 1 NA NA	<< 1 NA NA	1 6 10