By Mat
Cruise ships are getting bigger, and the Port of Funchal wants to keep up. The regional ports authority, APRAM, will invest close to 5 million euros in a set of works at the port. The goal is to improve its capacity, safety and efficiency, and to prepare it for larger ships.
APRAM reports to the Regional Secretariat for the Economy. The plan covers three separate projects: stronger moorings for cruise ships, new water and sewage pipes, and a larger border control area for passengers.
3.5 Million Euros for 29 New Mooring Bollards on Quays 2 and 3
The largest part of the money, about 3.5 million euros, will go to the mooring system on quays 2 and 3. Work is expected to start in the second half of next year.
The plan is to install 29 new bollards, the heavy posts that ships tie their ropes to. Each new bollard can hold 200 tonnes. The 36 existing bollards, each rated at 150 tonnes, will stay in use, although some will be moved.
The mooring points will be set up in different layouts along the quays. These were designed after a study of how ships tie up there. The work will make the system much stronger and more flexible, and the two quays safer to operate.
The regional secretary for the economy, José Manuel Rodrigues, explained the aim:
"We are preparing the Port of Funchal for the future of cruises. Investing today in safety, capacity and efficiency means making sure that Madeira remains a leading destination for the companies and for the thousands of passengers who visit us."
José Manuel Rodrigues, Regional Secretary for the Economy
One in Three Cruise Ships Visiting Madeira Is Over 320 Metres Long
The size of today's ships explains the need for change. Paula Cabaço, who chairs the board of APRAM, said that about one third of the cruise ships arriving in Madeira are now longer than 320 metres.
She explained the reason: "The global fleet has been growing in size and draught, and we have to make sure that our port keeps up with this change and remains ready to receive larger ships."
"The industry is changing and we have to be ready to respond to that change, guaranteeing the safety and quality of port operations," Cabaço added.
Over 800,000 Euros to Replace Pipes at the Pontinha Pier, Due June
A second project is already under way. It will renew the water and sewage network on the Pontinha breakwater.
The contract is worth more than 800,000 euros and should be finished in June next year. It will modernise the pipes so that the port can serve ships in harbour more efficiently.
Cabaço admitted this kind of work gets little public attention. "It is an intervention that, while not having the same visibility as other works, is essential for the running of the port and for the quality of the service we provide to ships," she said.
She noted that these systems are key to daily operations. They make the port more reliable as traffic at Funchal continues to grow.
350,000 Euros to Double Border Control Booths From Four to Eight
The third project is at the Madeira Maritime Station, the passenger terminal. APRAM will spend 350,000 euros to double its border control capacity.
The terminal has four control booths today, two for boarding and two for arrivals. It will soon have eight, four for each direction. The aim is to cut waiting times for passengers and improve the experience of cruise visitors.
New EU Entry/Exit System Replaces Passport Stamps With Biometric Records
The booths are also linked to the Entry/Exit System (EES). This is the European Union's new digital system for recording when citizens of non-EU countries enter and leave the Schengen Area.
It replaces the old practice of stamping passports by hand. Instead, travellers' details and biometric data are recorded electronically.
Source: dnoticias.pt
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