There are two beaches to the right of Portman as one looks at the Sea. I do not have a name for the first small beach however the second is named El Gorguel and is used as the staging point for the maintenance of the tuna farm facilities. This is what it looks like today:

The walking club ventured into the area on Sunday 071208 and found that area to be strikingly beautiful. In addition, the area  in the bowl is quite substantial. Indications are the container port will take over the bowl and will not be seen but from the sea. See below.

291208 - I found a link that summarises articles addressing the El Gorguel issue. It seems that the project has some significant momentum with plans for an environment impact assessment over the next two years and a project start by 2012.

231108 - I missed this commentary re El Gorguel and Portman. It contains some interesting information: Google Translate of an terc3ra article: (See an article from May 5, 2008 which sheds more light on the subject - like who may be bidding)

It's hard to imagine a more unfortunate combination of two projects that are considered strategic to our region. I refer to the regeneration of the Bay of Portmán and the proposed container dock in the environment of the beach of El Gorguel. As the latter has been raised, not only unworkable by the serious implications involved, but also nullifies the first. Therefore, the head thinking of our region and our country is frankly do not have splendid: instead of achieving synergies and effect summation in the formulation of two performances rated as critical, have resulted in the generation of uncertainty over the viability of both . Indeed, the proposal forwarded by the Port Authority at the Ministry of Development for the construction of a dock in The Gorguel has been shredded by a University study, commissioned by the Sierra Mining Foundation, whose findings leave no doubt. First, its location in the Sierra de la Fausilla, recognized as SPAs and SCIs, drag serious environmental consequences, with involvement of rare habitats or very rare and reduction of protected fauna and flora. The impact on the marine environment is equally important, as well as the geological heritage of the area, seriously deteriorating the Geological Points of Interest (Window tectonics Cala del Caballo, Cala Gorguel of the ravine and Gorguel) and a substantial part of the archaeological heritage and mining environment. Not to mention the apparent inconsistency between what we intend to run in the Gorguel and approach to sustainable tourism that accompanies the regeneration of the Bay of Portmán and Sierra Minera, which is declared as Interest Regional. The plan Widows neutralizes the potential tourism values, not just a Bay and Sierra recovered, but also from adjacent spaces such as Cala del Caballo, the Rambla del Avenque and the valley of Gorguel, highly valued for its natural heritage, geological and cultural. Therefore, we are faced with an untenable proposal that in itself also presents serious side effect such as the fact that it is incompatible with the start-value tourism, environmental and cultural development of all that broad swathe of the Sierra Minera. The problem is that such inconsistency is being resolved, from the political arena, in favor of unsustainability. The regional government of the PP has long offered its unconditional support to the idea of Viudes.a through the Regional Strategic Plan. The problem is that the strong initial opposition PSOE's regional is being transmuted, first, in a shameful ambiguity that could lead to short-term, an explicit endorsement. A few days ago, the Socialist parliamentary group of our Regional Assembly amended the whole of a Motion of IU + LV that, picking up the feelings of both associations in the area as the City Council of the Union itself, advocating the rejection of the House to macropuerto in Gorguel. The Socialists claiming the need for studies on the matter to adopt a definitive position. His colleagues from the City of La Union, like the other two political forces in the Consistory not seem to need studies to express their opposition to a project-fetched; rejection that until not long ago also shared the regional socialist direction. In parallel to this political advance of the macroterminal container, there is a new and yet another setback in the implementation of the regeneration Bay Colmat sterile by miners, because, according to commitments made at the end of 2008 should be in the works tender. Perhaps for this in the budgets for 2009, only 2.9 million are collected for such works within a multi-year investment of 8.2 billion (2010), in contrast to the total amount of public investment provided, which amounts to 77.8 million euros.

Our regional political class has to be retrained, and betting choice in the regeneration of Portmán and tourism development, which is not incompatible with a container terminal at the dry port, as proposed in several areas. Rather than ruining two projects, let us do it consistent and sustainable.

221208 - It looks like the Cartagena Chamber of Commerce is backing the container port initiative. Google Translate of the  La Verdad newspaper article:

The president of the Chamber of Commerce says that the main objective remains that the city becomes a reference in the Mediterranean Arc.

The unstoppable growth that has seen the Port of Cartagena awakens the satisfaction of the highest representative of the Chamber of Commerce of Cartagena, which welcomes the actions that have been developed in recent years, giving the keys to revitalizing the sea front and not waste the opportunity that would mean the new port in Gorguel.

At what point is the port of Cartagena?

The port has been increasing in freight traffic and especially in bulk liquids, and has been a very positive development. What happens is that even with the expansion of tailings, the opportunities for growth are limited. Therefore, the only alternative to this need for growth is being raised from a few months ago is the new port of El Gorguel, which if realized, would turn the port of Cartagena on one of the most important in the Mediterranean. So it would be for several reasons: capacity, because the new port would have a capacity well above that of the existing facility, and secondly for its geostrategic position, because by being in the Spanish lifted all traffic between the Pacific and Atlantic passes virtually through the door. The capture of goods between the two oceans would be important reference among the other ports of Cartagena, which would give a qualitative and quantitative leap very important. On the other hand, the arrival of cruise tourists to Cartagena, which was an initiative of the Port Authority, has been increasing year after year and has contributed to Cartagena to become a cultural and tourist attraction. The Chamber of Commerce supports without any reservation at the port because Gorguel would increase port traffic and turn the city into a logistics hub in the first level. In any case, the port of Cartagena is at its best.

At what point is the relationship between the Port and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Cartagena?

First, the Port Authority is part of the plenary of the Chamber of Commerce of Cartagena, while the chairman of the organ chamber is part of the board of the Port. Both institutions are involved in the decisions made at both agencies. With regularity, the two agencies formally meetings because communication is very fluid. In addition, the name of the Chamber of Commerce also includes Navigation. This means that we have a president of the commission of Navigation, which is Jose Vera, who is in permanent contact with the Port for everything that has to do with their business. On the issue of cruise tourists there is an association between the port and the Chamber of Commerce that has resulted in the Association of Friends of the cruises along the Mall Open, an initiative that is allowing the tourists who arrive on a public holiday or find a part in Sunday's open trade. This initiative serves as a reference to much of the Spanish ports and even beyond our borders.

Cartagena has always looked to the sea and has aspired to be a reference port in the Mediterranean. Is it going in the right direction?

It is a common goal for both the Port and for the House. If the forecasts are kept in the study of El Gorguel, saving qualifications are met, we would be talking about a very significant jump. Productivity growth is reflected in an increase in jobs. In addition, require a large area next logistics, because all that needed goods transported to new points of destination and this would generate employment and economic activity. For this reason, and it is another thing in common of Port and the House, both incorporated in Ferme, a foundation that brings together one of its partners to most of the Mediterranean Chambers, who is pursuing the whole of the Mediterranean axis is equipped with a transport Railway freight, as the communication channel road seem inadequate. The port of El Gorguel cash needs for its development a freight train that will guarantee the transportation of containers and goods.

How do you rate the factor of development and job creation that creates directly and indirectly the activity that generates the port?

The port is the departure point for many of the products and goods that are produced in the region of Murcia. Therefore there is an obvious connection between the port and industrial activity, horticultural or energy that is thanks to him, and that translates into the creation of indirect jobs. Moreover, the coastline is the responsibility of the Port of Cartagena, regardless of who has the City Council, but it is true that the city is opened to the sea when the Port decides to move its goods from dock to the main facade and St. Lucia Tailings, and that transformed the city and made it more attractive.

What he calls the Chamber of Commerce at the Port of Cartagena in the short term?

On the topic of the city, we are concerned about both the Port and the Chamber of Commerce that the coastline is revitalized as soon as possible. At this point has adequate infrastructure, but we have discussed on several occasions the need to give more life to the sea front, that the premises are functioning properly, having the proper uses and is a magnet not only for Cartagena, but also for tourists. Another item that no longer depends on both the Port, is the new recreational marina, which is located on the dock of La Curra, and that for technical and legal issues have not been able yet to begin. This is necessary given the high demand for moorings there, and because this project was carrying the recovery of the battery of coastline that is next. Outside the city we remain concerned about the issue of the port of El Gorguel that is the great challenge of the regional government, and the Port's own Chamber of Commerce, because what we consider essential.
The location of the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce also speaks for itself and is a symbol of that relationship with the Port Authority.
In fact, the building of the Chamber of Commerce was destined to the Port of Cartagena. The former president of the Chamber of Commerce and its executive committee reached an agreement with the Port to start a concession for fifty years. This has given us a unique position because we are very close to the Port Authority and other key infrastructures such as the National Museum of Underwater Archeology, or next Palacio de Congresos.

211208 - It seems that there will be a neighbourhood meeting to discuss the new container port - Google Translate of the La Verdad newspaper article:

 There will be a meeting point "where that will take advantage of the neighbors and not politicians." With this statement of intent set forth in Portmán, the regional president Ramon Luis Valcarcel, opened a new phase in the process of handling of the proposed container dock in The Gorguel, which, to date, there was a significant mismatch.
It may be recalled that the promoters of this initiative are the Port Authority of Cartagena and Regional Government, which, on the other hand, flatly rejected the collective neighborhood and the Corporation unionense. Valcarcel said it will have to apply "to explain the virtues of teaching with this infrastructure," but without forgetting that "the neighbors have their reasons to believe that it is not good and we have to get in their situation humbly."
In this process of public dialogue that is started now will be the key figure of the mayor, Francisco Barnabas, for whom the President had words of praise Regional: 'Get in line because it makes you have to do is what I ask all mayors, which is put at the head of the interests of its neighbors over the acronym policies, the PP in this case. "
At present, the Port of Cartagena is awaiting the approval of the preliminary Promotion, which consists of the construction in the coastal stretch around the beach of El Gorguel a large container terminal, plus a zone of activities logistics.

010708 - Spain's Cartagena Port Authority (APC) is promoting the El Gorguel harbour project to both construction companies and potential operators of new facilities there.

The project will require investment of E1.4B that APC plans to raise as a public private partnership initiative, with E750M provided by private investors and the remaining E650M by APC.

On offer is a 30-year operating concession along with a possible five-year extension - the longest period possible under existing Spanish law. Work is expected to commence by 2012 and the port to open 36 months later.

Because of Cartagena’s favourable location for transhipment, it is argued that by 2020 El Gorguel could be handling 2M TEU/year, according to the plan, increasing to 2.7M TEU by 2025. An area encompassing 50M m2 is also expected to be put aside adjacent to the new port to serve as a logistic space and distribution area.

A feasibility study has been completed by consultants ALG and this has been shown to a number of Spanish construction companies known to be interested in backing the project. The University of Cartagena, as well as Hamburg Port Consulting and Ocean Shipping Consultants, all back the feasibility of the project, according to port sources.

Information released by the director of Public Works in Murcia suggested that up to 21M TEU regularly pass by the port and this figure is increasing by 10% annually. In addition to the container terminal, the new harbour will have ferry/ro-ro and multi-purpose/general cargo handling facilities.

Currently under way in the port is a dredging programme being executed for APC by a joint venture of Nesco and Dragados as part of the work on the multi-purpose terminal in the Escomberas dock basin...

Credits: World Cargo News On Line. Published July 2008

Locals have been calling to put stop to the destruction of the Bahia de Gorguel. Their website is www.elgorguelestavivo.com. Please visit and support them.