The Getxo Marina in northern Spain is set to begin a new chapter as its management transitions to public hands in 2026, following the resignation of concessionaire company Abra Getxo Port (AGP). The decision was approved by the Board of Directors of Sociedad Puerto Deportivo El Abra-Getxo S.A. (SPDAG).
The decision was formalised during the board’s session held on 27 October 2025, attended by representatives from the Getxo Town Council and the Basque Government. Following the meeting, SPDAG president and mayor of Getxo, Amaia Agirre, and the president of the Port Authority of Bilbao, Iván Jiménez, outlined the next steps for the marina’s management.
AGP’s resignation will take effect on 31 December 2025, marking the end of the current concession. As part of the process, SPDAG will execute the financial guarantee linked to the concession, amounting to €1,550,453.70 (approximately $1.79 million USD).
Throughout 2026, SPDAG will lead a reorganisation of human, material and operational resources to assume direct management of the port. Meanwhile, the Port Authority of Bilbao is developing a new sustainable and participatory model aligned with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the metropolitan strategy.
The initiative “Getxo/Bilbao Sustainable Port-City: An Integrated Approach 2030” is supported by the UN Local2030 Coalition Secretariat and aims to create a modern, open and sustainable waterfront connected to urban life in Getxo.
The project seeks to combine nautical activity with leisure, local commerce and public spaces. The port authority expects the design of the new management model to be finalised within two years.
In a statement, Jiménez said that “this process, in collaboration with Getxo Town Council, marks the beginning of an ambitious transformation, rooted in institutional cooperation and a strong commitment to the people of Getxo and the province of Bizkaia.”
Agirre stated: “We are working together as institutions to protect our common heritage and to ensure a stable and shared future for the marina and its surroundings. Getxo is now embarking on an exciting new chapter: a more open, more sustainable and better integrated marina that will be a source of pride for all the people of Getxo.”
Currently, the Getxo Marina is one of the main maritime gateways to the Basque, welcoming nearly 100,000 visitors each year through its three cruise terminals and more than 700 moorings. It serves as a central hub for tourism, commerce, sport and community life in the area.
Images from Marinas.com.
