The Las Palmas Ports Foundation and the Las Palmas Port Authority celebrated the XXIX edition of the Las Palmas Ports Awards this Thursday, an event that for the first time in its history took place outside of Gran Canaria, moving to Marina Lanzarote, in Arrecife.
The event was attended by prominent institutional authorities, including Yonathan de León Machín, mayor of Arrecife; María Migdalia Machín Tavío, counselor for Universities of the Government of the Canary Islands, representing the regional executive.
The president of the Port Authority and the Ports of Las Palmas Foundation, Beatriz Calzada, and the Foundation's manager, Betsabé Morales, presided over the ceremony.
The 2025 edition recognizes companies, professionals, and entities whose work has outstandingly contributed to the development of the province's port environment.
This year's award winners are:
Business Initiative Award: Varadero Marina Lanzarote, a benchmark in the Canary Islands for naval repair and maintenance, driven by the innovative spirit of its founder, José Calero Rodríguez.
Lifetime Achievement Award:
- Nicolás Lorenzo Ferrera, Port Employment Center.
- José Torres Hernández, Torremor e Hijos S.L.
- Cecilio Hernández Castellano, Port Police, a key figure in port outreach and education.
Distinguished Client: Spliethoff, an international shipping group and strategic ally of the Port of Las Palmas.
Special Institutional Award: Chambers of Commerce of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura, for their role in economic revitalization and public-private cooperation.
Special Sociocultural Award: Cofradía de Pescadores de San Ginés, a symbol of seafaring tradition and cultural identity of Lanzarote.
Posthumous Recognition: Aitor Galán Robles, delegate of the Port Authority in Arrecife, remembered for his dedication, his approachability, and his defense of the Lanzarote port.
Centennial Recognition: ASOCELPA, for its 100 years of history linked to the Port of La Luz and Las Palmas.
During her speech, President Beatriz Calzada highlighted the human value of the port sector and the need to recognize those who have dedicated their lives to the docks, operations, and maritime activity:
"Ports stopped being mere infrastructure a long time ago. They are stories of people, of generations who have built with effort, sacrifice, and talent what we are today as a port system."
Calzada also underscored the strategic role of the ports in the territorial and economic cohesion of the archipelago:
“In a fragmented land like the Canary Islands, our ports guarantee connectivity, the arrival of goods, and the daily life of our islands. They are the heart that keeps our economy running.”
Furthermore, the president had words of recognition for the workers of the five ports of the Port Authority and highlighted the importance of continuing to support essential sectors such as artisanal fishing, stevedoring, and maritime services
The Foundation's manager, Betsabé Morales, expressed the excitement of celebrating these awards in Lanzarote and dedicated words of thanks to the sector:
“These awards exist to remember stories that inspire and that build port every day. Because a port is not just docks or infrastructure: it is a large, hardworking, and proud family.”
Morales also highlighted the Foundation's role as a connector between the port and society:
“Our purpose is clear: to listen, to support, to drive, and to bring the port closer to the people. We are a port province open to the world, and we want to continue building opportunities with vision, with commitment, and with soul.”
The celebration at Marina Lanzarote marks a turning point in the evolution of the Puertos de Las Palmas Awards, which from this edition reaffirm their commitment to making visible the importance of the different ports in the province and highlighting their contribution to the development of the Canary Islands.
The gala concluded with a toast in honor of the awardees and a shared message: to continue building innovative, sustainable, and profoundly human ports, where collaboration between institutions, companies, and citizens is the engine of progress.
