The history of the Port of Valencia began in 1483, when King Ferdinand the Catholic granted one Antoni Joan the privilege of building a wooden bridge on the beach of the Grao district, called the "Pont de Fusta".   Remains of the “Pont de Fusta” As of this date until the 19th century, various projects for the construction and improvement of the installations were carried out, without ever being too successfull due to the periodic flooding of the Turia river and the continual movements of sand on the beach. Yet traffic increased to quite an extent, and trading privileges were granted for other kingdoms in 1679 and for the Americas in 1791, with Valencia becoming the sixth maritime province in Spain.   Project by Manuel Mirallas (1798) Throughout the 20th century, improvement works were made to buildings and warehouses and the extension of the docks was continued, with the current configuration being achieved, and new specialised installations being created for all types of merchandise. These extensions, closely linked to the rise in container traffic in recent years, have enabled Valenciaport to achieve its current position of leadership among trading ports on the western Mediterranean. In relation to the management of the port, as of 1880 this was entrusted to the so-called "Junta de Obras del Puerto de Valencia" (Works Committee of the Port of Valencia), a body that was replaced by the "Junta del Puerto de Valencia" (Valencia Port Committee) in 1968. With the granting of Valencia's statute of autonomy, management of the port was transferred to Valencia Port Authority under the enforcement of the Ports Act of 1992, and thereafter the port has been known by its current name Autoridad Portuaria de Valencia. Current view of the Port of Valencia  Port of Valencia history