The City Council will install a new fishing boat on Puerta del Mar Avenue to highlight the city’s maritime heritage

The boat, which will be on display at one of the roundabouts along the avenue, will be an example of the traditional purse seine boats used along the Mediterranean coast

The Estepona City Council announces that it will install a new traditional fishing boat for public display at one of the roundabouts on Puerta del Mar Avenue. The boat to be acquired will replace the one currently located at this same site, which is in such poor condition that it must be replaced.

The goal of this public bidding process is to continue restoring and displaying a representative example of the traditional purse seine boats used along the Mediterranean coast, thereby reinforcing Estepona’s seafaring identity and preserving this cultural and tourist attraction. Daniel García, the councilmember in charge of Historical Heritage, notes that replacing the boat will allow the local maritime and fishing heritage and the tradition of purse seine fishing to continue to be highlighted, while also contributing to urban beautification through a new element with sculptural and museum-like qualities.

The councilman noted that the boat on Puerta del Mar Avenue is part of a collection of ornamental features linked to the sea and fishing gear located along this major thoroughfare, such as a replica of a lighthouse and a large ship’s propeller.

The contract specifications state that the new vessel must be a traditional purse seine fishing boat used along the Spanish Mediterranean coast, with a total length of between 11 and 13 meters and a beam of between 3 and 4 meters. The hull may be made of wood and/or fiberglass and must be structurally sound enough to ensure stability and rigidity for static display. It must also retain the cabin or wheelhouse.

The successful bidder must deliver the vessel in a condition suitable for transport and subsequent installation. It must also carry out the necessary preparation work for the exhibition in advance, including cleaning and surface sanding, corrosion treatments or anti-rust paint, and the final finish, both exterior and interior. The vessel must also bear signage indicating its historical name or municipal designation.

The base bid amount is 68,970 euros (VAT included). The award criteria include the most competitive financial offer and the shortest delivery time. Interested companies may submit their bids until August 24. Those interested may consult the Contracting Authority Profile available on the Electronic Portal at www.estepona.es.

The municipal official in charge of Heritage believes that the acquisition of this vessel is part of the municipality’s commitment to preserving and highlighting Estepona’s historical connection to the sea and fishing activities. In this way, the boat will become part of the urban landscape as a symbolic element that helps keep alive the memory of the town’s seafaring tradition.

In this regard, Daniel García noted that last November, the Estepona City Council inaugurated the Museum of the Sea, located in the bullring, which pays tribute to the millennia-old relationship between humankind and the ocean. The center houses the Miguel López Mateo Collection, the result of a lifetime dedicated to preserving the memory of the trades, techniques, and tools that have defined the Mediterranean’s maritime culture.