Statement on behalf of Iñaki Arizmendi, the current owner and Captain of the Rafael Verdera. As part of the family that has stewarded this vessel for decades, I’m reaching out to your organization to present the situation of this ship. Built in 1841, it is the oldest active vessel in the Spanish fleet and a benchmark of European maritime heritage.
It is important to emphasize that the Rafael Verdera holds the official status of Historic Vessel, certified by the Directorate General of the Spanish Merchant Marine (DGMM). This legal status directly links us to the commitments of the Faro Convention regarding the social value of heritage.
Our relationship with the EMH has a long history based on shared goals. The Rafael Verdera had the honor of being the host vessel and venue for the EMH meeting in Palma de Mallorca in 2005, reinforcing our family’s commitment to the protection of living maritime heritage.
Trajectory, Sustainability, and Conservation Model: The recent history of this vessel has been tied to our family since 1985, when it was acquired by my husband, Miguel Ángel Arizmendi. For four decades, we have fully and privately managed its maintenance. Currently, after our son Iñaki took over the management and command, we are in a negotiation process with the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) that compromises the vessel’s operational stability.
The Rafael Verdera is managed under a self-financing and sustainability model. Our commercial local passenger activity is the sole source of income that allows us to fund the maintenance of a 185-year-old wooden ship. This project is a real-world example of the Blue Economy and the values of the European Green Deal, promoting traditional navigation with low environmental impact. This preservation work has been carried out exclusively with our own resources, the support of our passengers, and sea lovers, without ever receiving public or private subsidies.
Our proposal seeks the full integration of the vessel into the new redevelopment of the Paseo Marítimo in Palma. The Rafael Verdera is not just a boat, but a living heritage that must merge with the current remodeling, providing the historical, cultural, and sustainable value that a project of this scale requires. To this end, a mooring that guarantees its visibility and safety in the center of the port is indispensable. Only by maintaining this strategic location can we ensure the commercial activity that finances its conservation, proving that professional exploitation and the protection of a certified historic monument are two sides of the same reality, necessary for the cultural and green dynamism of the port.
However, the current proposal from the APB does not seem to respect the framework of Royal Decree 784/2021 on Historic Vessels, attempting to apply standard commercial conditions. The possibility of relocation to peripheral areas of the port would hinder access for citizens and tourists, breaking the social bond with the community and condemning the vessel to an invisibility that would lead to its economic ruin.
Our Request: Given the relevance of the Rafael Verdera as the oldest active vessel in the Spanish fleet and a certified Historic Vessel, we formally request:
- A letter of institutional support addressed to the APB and the Government of the Balearic Islands, stating that the protection of a certified historic vessel implies ensuring the visibility and operational conditions necessary for its sustainability within the city’s new urban project.
- Guidance on the appropriate channels to inform relevant European institutions in the fields of culture and the environment about this situation.
EMH response:
Leonardo Garcia de Vincentiis (President of our new member AEBEC) and our EMH President, Joao de Almeida have been in touch with the Palma port authorities to make a strong case in support of the Rafael Verdera
