In the XV century the famous navigator Christopher Columbus used Gran Canaria Island as a base for ship repairs and as his last stop in Europe before sailing to the New World. Since its foundation in 1478 at a time when Spain extended it rule over the Canary Islands, Las Palmas enjoyed a privileged role as a support base for maritime expeditions across the Atlantic Ocean and beyond.
In the XVI century, when the sugar trade was uppermost in the port economy, Las Palmas suffered pirate attacks, naval battles and even pillages as a result of eh fierce rivalry between Spain and other maritime powers such as France, England and Holland. The next two centuries saw a period of decline for this port. The recovery started in 1811 with the construction of new piers. Since 1990 up today the port capability has been strengthened by new modern terminals for containers and cruise traffic as well as by new industrial and logistic facilities and zones with a privileged tax regime. Nowadays Las Palmas Port has benefited from the potential of its strategic location by developing a varied range of maritime services which have made Las Palmas the busiest port in the Eastern Mid Atlantic and West Africa and a center for seaborne trade between Europe, Africa and the Americas. Moreover, this high degree of connectivity, mainly with West Africa, has given it the status of European trade gateway to African markets. These advantages have led to a comprehensive range of port services. It is often said that Las Palmas is really five different ports in one: 1. A commercial port, focused mainly on container handling, with an annual throughput of about 1.5 million TEU (4th in Spain and 75th in the world ranking). Las Palmas is the leading port in this region for refrigerated warehousing with a total of 175.000 cubic meters of cold storage. Located mainly on the fishing piers, these facilities are available for all kind of perishable goods, including meat, fruit and vegetables as well as providing ice and rooms for processing activities. 2. A service leading port with a long tradition of competence in bunkering, provisions and ship repair. The Port of Las Palmas is the main center for ship repair in Spain and in the Mid Atlantic. It is also the main second bunkering center for ocean shipping in the Mid Atlantic and ranks second among Spain ports in this field. Nearly 2 million tones of bunkers, including fuel oil, diesel and lubricating oil are supplied each year from Las Palmas. 3. A fishing port used as a base by international fleets. The Port of Las Palmas is the main base for deep sea fishing in the Mid Atlantic and the second fishing port of Spain, hosting a large number of fleets from continental Spain, Europe and Asia. A wide range of support services for fishing fleets is available in Las Palmas, ranging from technical equipment to provisional crews. 4. A passenger port with high levels of traffic in cruise and ferry sectors. Over the past two decades this region has seen a steady growth in cruise traffic, with a sharper rise starting just at the turn of the century. At this moment Las Palmas and Madeira have become the third zone for cruises in the world. 5. A yachting center, ideally positioned to support transatlantic voyages. Las Palmas boasts the largest yacht marina in the Canary Islands with a capacity of about 1.150 berths. This marina is an important support base for yachts sailing for the Caribbean, mainly from September to February, and it regularly hosts big yachting competitions like the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, which in 2011 reaches its 26 edition with more than 250 yachts on the route from Las Palmas Port to Rodney Bay, St Lucia (Caribbean). There are strong ties between the Port of Las Palmas and other key sectors of the economy of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (380.000 inhabitants), including tourism, industry and commerce as well as the airport. This city relies on its port as a vital catalyst for development. Due to all these services Las Palmas Port plays a key role in the economic and social development of Gran Canaria Island, accounting for nearly 3% per cent of the region gross domestic product (GDP) and generating a total number of 10.000 employments. The transport sector is the major pillar of the Canary Islands economy and its ports have a key role to play in this regard. In conclusion, Las Palmas Port is a cornerstone of the Gran Canaria Island economy because of its contribution to gross domestic products and to the international expansion of its economy.
In the XVI century, when the sugar trade was uppermost in the port economy, Las Palmas suffered pirate attacks, naval battles and even pillages as a result of eh fierce rivalry between Spain and other maritime powers such as France, England and Holland. The next two centuries saw a period of decline for this port. The recovery started in 1811 with the construction of new piers. Since 1990 up today the port capability has been strengthened by new modern terminals for containers and cruise traffic as well as by new industrial and logistic facilities and zones with a privileged tax regime. Nowadays Las Palmas Port has benefited from the potential of its strategic location by developing a varied range of maritime services which have made Las Palmas the busiest port in the Eastern Mid Atlantic and West Africa and a center for seaborne trade between Europe, Africa and the Americas. Moreover, this high degree of connectivity, mainly with West Africa, has given it the status of European trade gateway to African markets. These advantages have led to a comprehensive range of port services. It is often said that Las Palmas is really five different ports in one: 1. A commercial port, focused mainly on container handling, with an annual throughput of about 1.5 million TEU (4th in Spain and 75th in the world ranking). Las Palmas is the leading port in this region for refrigerated warehousing with a total of 175.000 cubic meters of cold storage. Located mainly on the fishing piers, these facilities are available for all kind of perishable goods, including meat, fruit and vegetables as well as providing ice and rooms for processing activities. 2. A service leading port with a long tradition of competence in bunkering, provisions and ship repair. The Port of Las Palmas is the main center for ship repair in Spain and in the Mid Atlantic. It is also the main second bunkering center for ocean shipping in the Mid Atlantic and ranks second among Spain ports in this field. Nearly 2 million tones of bunkers, including fuel oil, diesel and lubricating oil are supplied each year from Las Palmas. 3. A fishing port used as a base by international fleets. The Port of Las Palmas is the main base for deep sea fishing in the Mid Atlantic and the second fishing port of Spain, hosting a large number of fleets from continental Spain, Europe and Asia. A wide range of support services for fishing fleets is available in Las Palmas, ranging from technical equipment to provisional crews. 4. A passenger port with high levels of traffic in cruise and ferry sectors. Over the past two decades this region has seen a steady growth in cruise traffic, with a sharper rise starting just at the turn of the century. At this moment Las Palmas and Madeira have become the third zone for cruises in the world. 5. A yachting center, ideally positioned to support transatlantic voyages. Las Palmas boasts the largest yacht marina in the Canary Islands with a capacity of about 1.150 berths. This marina is an important support base for yachts sailing for the Caribbean, mainly from September to February, and it regularly hosts big yachting competitions like the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, which in 2011 reaches its 26 edition with more than 250 yachts on the route from Las Palmas Port to Rodney Bay, St Lucia (Caribbean). There are strong ties between the Port of Las Palmas and other key sectors of the economy of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (380.000 inhabitants), including tourism, industry and commerce as well as the airport. This city relies on its port as a vital catalyst for development. Due to all these services Las Palmas Port plays a key role in the economic and social development of Gran Canaria Island, accounting for nearly 3% per cent of the region gross domestic product (GDP) and generating a total number of 10.000 employments. The transport sector is the major pillar of the Canary Islands economy and its ports have a key role to play in this regard. In conclusion, Las Palmas Port is a cornerstone of the Gran Canaria Island economy because of its contribution to gross domestic products and to the international expansion of its economy.
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