AZORES | Maritime operations restricted due to absence of navigation and safety conditions for docking
Maritime operations in the Autonomous Region of the Azores have been restricted for more than two weeks due to the absence of minimum safety conditions for navigation and docking of vessels in several ports across the archipelago. This situation arises from successive periods of weather instability, as widely reported, which have affected not only Mainland Portugal but also the Azores islands.
The Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures informs that the Regional Government is constantly monitoring developments and maintaining continuous contact with shipowners, intending to restore regular maritime freight transport between the various islands as soon as possible.
However, full resumption of maritime operations can only take place when effective safety conditions are in place, which is not currently the case due to the passage of the Leonardo depression, causing a sharp increase in wind intensity and rough sea conditions affecting the entire country.
Several ports are closed to navigation in Mainland Portugal and in the two autonomous regions. Nonetheless, the situation is particularly critical in the Azores, given the territorial fragmentation and the distances between islands — in some cases exceeding several hours or even days of travel — which make it impossible to ensure regular maritime transport in the current adverse sea conditions.
The extreme weather events that have affected the entire country, including the Azores, show a growing trend each year. According to the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, this situation requires everyone – the Government, businesses and the general population – to adjust their behaviour and implement new measures in terms of public supply and provision.
The Regional Government will continue to monitor the situation closely, reiterating that regular freight transport will only be resumed once safe navigation conditions are in place.
GRA/RÁDIOILHÉU
