History

From the first uses to the first works

The Iberians and other pre-Roman peoples used the natural bay south of Montjuïc for their maritime exchanges. The Romans transferred this activity to the beaches of Barcino, from where they imported to the capital of the Empire, Rome. At the end of the 14th century, the Royal Shipyards (Drassanes) were available and there were attempts at other port works, but the first ones did not begin until 1477 to achieve a safe port.

The works were developed in what it would later be the fishing district of Barceloneta. These were the beginnings of the artificial port, built with land reclaimed from the sea. Progress in the following centuries was slow and laborious, and the sand continued to cause problems. But in 1772 the dike already extended to the current Pescadors dock, where the first lighthouse was located, today the “Torre del Rellotge”.

Turning the rudder: towards the modern port

Industrialisation and the replacement of sailing by steam ships brought substantial changes to transport and the port. A new impulse for the development of the infrastructure came with the constitution in 1869 of the Board of Works of the Port . Approved at the end of 1868 by the Ministry of Public Works, it was made up of merchants, shipowners, shippers and sailors. The modern era of the port was beginning.

Carlos de Angulo’s project in 1900 proposed an ambitious expansion to adapt to the needs of industry and the traffic of goods and passengers. Between the end of the 17th century and the first decade of the 20th century, the works on the docks were carried out, which at the time represented values such as efficiency and modernity. Historic port buildings were also built and are still used for other purposes today.

Extensions and pioneering initiatives

From 1917 maritime traffic was affected by the instability of the wars and the Franco dictatorship. With the subsequent economic recovery, the port implemented the 1965-1966 plans, which made it possible to double the port area in less than 15 years. 

In 1978, the Ministry of Public Works granted autonomy to the port. The Autonomous Port was still a public entity, but with commercial company status.

At that time the relationship with Barcelona intensified, through the development of Port Vell. A relationship strengthened with the 1992 Olympic Games, undoubtedly a magical year for the city. The port played a key role, hosting more than 10 cruise ships to make up for the lack of hotel rooms in the city. That year the Government created Puertos del Estado to control the Spanish port system and the port management body became the Barcelona Port Authority.

The Master Plan 1989 set the bases for the expansion of the port from the diversion of the Llobregat river two kilometres to the south. This project meant once again doubling the area of the port. In addition, it included a pioneering initiative: the development of a Logistics Activities Zone (LAZ) adjacent to the port.

Infrastructure and vision of the future

In 2008, two strategic works were completed: the South and East breakwaters, the largest investment in the history of the port (501 million euros), with 53% coming from the European Cohesion Fund. A year later, in 2009, the Hotel W Barcelona and the Nova Bocana project gave a boost to the tourist offer. The port expansion had made it necessary to open the Bocana Nord, generating new spaces for the port and the city.

The port has established itself as essential for the Catalan and state economy. With the commitment to intermodality, the development of the networked port and the idea of a wealth-creating logistics platform, among others. And as reflected in the Strategic Plan 2021-2025, with the integration of sustainability as the axis of its actions. A port in keeping with the present and prepared for the future.