Tender for sub-concession of Madalena Shipyard to be launched by the end of the year, announced Vítor Fraga
The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport announced this afternoon that the Government will launch the tender for the sub-concession of Madalena Shipyard.
Heard at the Inquiry Commission on Passenger Maritime Transport and Port Infrastructures of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Vítor Fraga revealed that the existence of "two entities that have shown interest in operating this shipyard."
"These two entities that give us some assurance in the development of the activity and now we have the conditions to move forward with the tender for the sub-concession," said the Regional Secretary.
Vítor Fraga recalled that throughout this process, "we have undertaken an effort of permanent search and have never found a solution that would guarantee the success of the operation. I said form the very first day that I would not move forward unless I found it." According to him, we are able to carry out the procedures for a sub-concession tender."
Asked about the purchase of two new vessels for the maritime transport of passengers, vehicles and cargo in a roll on/roll off system, the Secretary for Transport explained that "the Government's strategy for the acquisition of both vessels is a very clear strategy."
Vítor Fraga recalled that the vessels "Gilberto Mariano" and "Mestre Simão" have entered into operation on the "Triangle" island (São Jorge, Pico and Faial) during the current legislative period. This has brought a new dynamics insofar as "there has been a growth of 50 thousand passengers on 'Triangle' islands, which is, of course, the result of the entry into operation of both vessels."
The Regional Secretary recalled that these vessels have other capabilities that did not exist until then, i.e., the transport of vehicles and cargo in a roll on/roll off system, "allowing the expansion of a market that was originally limited to one island, 10 to 15 thousand inhabitants, to a wider market of 40 thousand inhabitants."
"These are the assumptions underpinning the acquisition of the new vessels, that is, the expansion of this positive reality to this portion of the archipelago to a regional reality," added Vítor Fraga.
The Regional Secretary also said that, through the economic feasibility study, commissioned to an external company for Atlânticoline, "we are able to assess the economic impact of the construction projects of both vessels in Region. In this regard, we should take into account the impact of tourism and the 123 million Euros that can be saved from the chartering of boats, which represents 10 times more the Region's own efforts required for the construction of these new vessels."
Thus, concluded Vítor Fraga, "I believe the acquisition of these two new vessels will enable the provision of a better service and being a best quality service will encourage its use, as it currently happens on the 'Triangle Islands.'"
As already mentioned above, Vítor Fraga reiterated the Government's intention to grant the operation of new vessels to private entities.