Current maritime cargo transport model ensures territorial cohesion, says Vítor Fraga
The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport stated in Angra do Heroísmo that the new maritime cargo transport model responds to the Region's needs, while ensuring inter-island cohesion in crucial factors such as transport costs and stock maintenance.
Speaking to journalists at the end of a hearing at the Committee on Economic Affairs of the Legislative Assembly, Vítor Fraga stressed that current regulatory framework allows the adjustment of different components as required.
"The current regulatory framework allows different possibilities in order to meet what we consider as the factors that we must never give up," said the Regional Secretary. According to him, these factors "guarantee the same fares for all islands and ensure the maintenance of stocks on all islands, thus creating factors of economic, social and territorial cohesion between the islands."
Hence, Vítor Fraga refuted the need for more studies, as proposed by CDS/PP, arguing that this proposal is based on "a series of assumptions that do not correspond to the truth and evidence a total lack of knowledge on the current model and its multiple possibilities."
The Secretary for Transport also stressed that the Government of the Azores has been working together with shipowners and entrepreneurs to mitigate constraints, but recalled that there are certain constraints that the Region cannot control.
"There are situations, either due to weather conditions or due to the strike at the Lisbon Port, which cause these constraints," pointed out the government official.
"Our commitment, what we have been doing on a regular basis, is to work closely with shipowners operating in this area, either in internal links or in external links, so that we may reduce the delivery time of what we import and, above all, reduce the delivery time of what we export," stressed Vítor Fraga.
The Regional Secretary considered that the Government has found good solutions to respond to the needs of the Region, through commitments made with private operators. However, there is always room for improvement, ensuring the commitment to continue working for "a better service."
Vítor Fraga also listed some constraints in the transport of cargo between the Azores and Mainland Portugal such as, for example, a significant decrease in cargo transported to the Region in recent years.
"Between 2007 and 2015, there was a reduction of 30%, which has led operators to adjust their operation. Nowadays, they are operating with six vessels while, in a relatively recent past, they operated with eight vessels." Naturally, this requires some adjustments," said the government official.
Vítor Fraga also laid aside the alleged fears that the new ferries, designed for the transport of passengers, vehicles and cargo in roll on/roll off system, may compete with local private operators. In this regard, he recalled that the operation of these new vessels will be also granted to private companies.
"There will be room for everyone as it continues to exist on the 'Triangle' islands (Faial, Pico and São Jorge), where two vessels designed for that purpose are operating, but local operators continue to develop their activity," said the Regional Secretary.