The salons of the Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria became last night the epicenter of the port memory of the archipelago. In front of a large representation of the logistics and port community, the book “Presidentes a Pie de Muelle” was presented, a work by journalist Manuel Vidal that not only celebrates the 120th anniversary of the creation of the Port Works Board, but also gives a face to the evolution of one of the most powerful economic engines in the Atlantic.
The book, promoted by the Federation of Logistics Operators and Port Services (Oneport), takes an exhaustive look at the trajectory of the 28 presidents who have led the organization since 1905. From the times of the original Works Board to the current Port Authority, the work analyzes how the vision of these leaders has been crucial in transforming a simple anchorage into the strategic and technological enclave that the Port of La Luz is today.
The event included remarks from José Mayor, president of Oneport, who emphasized that the book is not just an exercise in nostalgia, but a tool to highlight the economic development of the Canary Islands. Among the attendees, the presence of Juan Luis Santana Perera, General Director of the entity, stood out, who reaffirmed the company’s commitment to promoting port culture and the importance of understanding the past to project future growth in the sector.
The presentation also served as a meeting point for discussion about the future of the port. It was emphasized that, beyond infrastructure, the success of La Luz has always resided in public-private collaboration and in the leadership capacity of those who have understood the needs of each era, from coal traffic in the early 20th century to energy hybridization and battery storage that mark the agenda for 2026.
For Manuel Vidal, author of the work, the title “Presidentes a Pie de Muelle” perfectly defines the essence of Canary Islands port management: a leadership exercised from direct knowledge of daily operations. The publication of this book arrives at a crucial moment, coinciding with the modernization of critical facilities and the digitalization of island logistics, reminding that each technical advancement is built upon a century of strategic decisions.
