Port of Barcelona – Year 1767

Manuscript plan of the port of Barcelona, drawn up at a moment of logistical crisis for the Principality. Around 1767, the phenomenon of silting (sedimentation of sands) reached its most critical point of the 18th century, causing high-sided vessels to lose the draught needed to dock and forcing lighterage operations in the open sea by means of barges.
This crisis underlined the importance of continuing the extension of the Levante quay, a project begun in 1751. The aim was to move the harbour entrance away from the accumulation of sand coming from the Besós. It is likely that the present sounding served as the necessary scientific basis for the Royal Board of Trade and the military engineers to justify to Charles III the urgency of continuing these works. Moreover, the operability of this port was the sine qua non condition for the success of the future Regulation of Free Trade with America (1778), as Barcelona was projected as the principal commercial hub of the Mediterranean towards the colonies.
Although the phenomenon of the silting of the port of Barcelona in 1767 is very well documented, no sea chart or map related to this event has been found in any public archive.