The Regional Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Ana Cunha, stated in Ponta Delgada that the archipelago of the Azores has been keeping up with the global mobilisation for oceans. This initiative has focused over the last decades on the impact of maritime transport.
Ana Cunha spoke at the opening of the seminar "The Preservation of Marine Environment" during the "Atlantic Polex.pt 2018" drill. On the occasion, she reminded that there are ongoing "maritime works with a budget over 50 million Euros to improve port infrastructures, providing them with better technical and operating conditions.
The Regional Secretary added that a number of sea-based initiatives and projects are also under development as a strategic vector for development focused on safeguarding the marine environment and oceans in general.
"The Regional Port Authorities, through INTERREG, have been keeping up with a wide range of European projects to respond and consistently address all of these concerns and future challenges, such as COSTA (CO2 & Ship Transport Emissions Abatement by LNG). This project is supported by the Trans-European Transport Network - European Commission under the "Motorways of the Sea" concept," said the government official.
Other initiatives involving the Government of the Azores include the following projects: JUL (Logistic Single Windows, GAINN4MoS (Sustainable LNG Operations for Ports and Shipping – Innovative Pilot Actions), ECOMARPORT (Transferência Tecnológica y Eco-Innovacion para la Gestion Ambiental y Marina en Zonas Portuárias de la Macaronésia). The government official also mentioned the "AtlanticBluePorts Project," an initiative focused on aspects related to the management and treatment of ballast water in port context as well as on the environmental risks associated to the proliferation of invasive species.
"Our vision for the future is clear and conscious regarding the social and economic development intended for the Azores, without losing sight of the concept of environmental sustainability, in all its aspects, for a better use of the regional port system as an Atlantic logistics platform," said Ana Cunha.
In this context, the Regional Secretary stated that the Government has made significant investments in existing port infrastructures, taking into consideration the geostrategic location of the Azores. According to her, "we are certainly contributing to the preservation of the marine environment, addressing a series of global challenges and implementing the strategy that the country and the Region have defined for our sea."
"On our part, we will continue to work together with all our partners to ensure the future of our economy, our people and our precious environment," stated Ana Cunha.