Ana Cunha assures that intervention in Ponta Delgada Port "reinforces the port for the next 25 years"
The Regional Secretary for Transport and Public Works stated that reprofiling works of the pier - 10m (ZH) will "reinforce the Ponta Delgada Port for the next 25 years, with a very significant increase (60%) in the embankment area. It will allow the simultaneous operation of three container ships operating between Mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Region of the Azores."
Ana Cunha spoke to journalists at the end of a visit to the port. According to her, "there is by no means a lack of attention to this port." In fact, she noted that the Region "has invested a total of 93 million Euros in this infrastructure over the last 20 years."
"On the contrary, there a very large investment in Ponta Delgada Port, which handles about two-thirds of the goods transported to the Autonomous Region of the Azores. Hence, it is a relevant infrastructure for the economic development of our Region," said the government official.
Accordingly, the Secretary for Public Works considered that the gains generated by this intervention are of "great importance."
Ana Cunha added that the project is at the stage of "environmental impact study, which is being conducted by the Regional Directorate for the Environment." This evaluation is expected to be concluded by January and, according to our estimates, "the project will be launched next year" with an estimated completion period of 36 months.
With regard to the ongoing works to reinforce the breakwater, the Regional Secretary stressed that "the deadline was extended and they are expected to be concluded by July 2018." According to her, the extension of the deadline was due to "normal contingencies of a maritime work."
"The sea is in command and, sometimes, we have to obey the sea," said the government official.
The contract works for the reinforcement of the outer layer of Ponta Delgada breakwater, now underway, represent an investment of around nine million Euros. In turn, the reprofiling works of the pier - 10m (ZH), the resurfacing of the port embankment, the improvement of technical networks and the dredging of the port basin represent an investment of 32 million Euros, plus VAT at the legal rate in force.