Only the third time, and with the shipowner helping her godmother, the sparkling wine bottle smashed into a thousand pieces against the hull of the «Carolina Teixeira», thus christening the new longliner ship launched at sea in the Algarve, which represents an investment of 1,3 ,XNUMX million euros from the Algarve Pescarade Sociedade de Pesca do Arade SA.
The christening ceremony of this third vessel dedicated to fishing for tuna and swordfish belonging to the company of the Algarve shipowner António Teixeira and his sons André and João took place in the fishing port of Portimão, on Saturday. Present were the Secretary of State for Fisheries, the President and Vice President of the Chamber of Portimo, the Councilor of the Chamber of Lagoa, the Regional Director for Agriculture and Fisheries of the Algarve, as well as representatives of other official and banking entities, suppliers, customers and many, many friends.
In statements to the Sul Informação, the shipowner António Teixeira recalled having started his fishing company, which today has three vessels sailing the Pacific, South Atlantic and North Atlantic seas, «with a boat, Claudinha», of local fishing, registered in Ferragudo . «Pescarade is a project that I started with my wife many years ago», which in the meantime gave «many troubles, but also many joys».
This third longliner ship, he revealed, is a «dream come true» of a company that results «from a lot of work and a lot of effort, thought out between me and my wife».
The new fishing vessel is called "Carolina Teixeira" precisely "in honor of the two women in my life, one who has died, the other who was born, my wife and granddaughter," added the shipowner, moved, during lunch that followed.
The vessel, which results from the complete refurbishment and modernization of an existing fishing vessel registered in Vigo, Galicia (Spain), with the support of European funds, under the Mar2020 program for innovation, has a autonomy of three months and capacity for 120 tons of fish, deep-frozen as soon as it is caught in its refrigerated holds. The crew consists of 14 men, mostly Indonesian nationals.
While the «Alma Lusa», the largest vessel in Pescarade (and in the country) for longline fishing (with hooks), sails through the waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans and the «Principe das Tides» sails in the South Atlantic, the «Carolina Teixeira» will fish in the areas of Madeira, the Azores and a little further up, but already in international waters in the North Atlantic.
The 14 crew, who have already left for the first task under the new flag, will now be at sea for three months (or until they fill the refrigerated holds), fishing with hooks that have buoys with GPS. The devices, baited with mackerel, are launched in the afternoon, over an area of about 50 to 70 miles, and collected the next day. The fish – tuna, swordfish and even shark – is immediately arranged and deep-frozen on the ship.
Pescarade, which produces tuna and swordfish “100% for export to Europe”, has so far caught “1000 to 1200 tonnes per year”. «With this new ship, we have moved to 1500 tons/year», António Teixeira told Sul Informação.
The «Carolina Teixeira» is equipped with the most modern electronic equipment for navigation and fishing, but it has other important aids: in the control room, the images of Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Nossa Senhora da Conceição and do Sacred heart of Jesus.
«We have to have faith to overcome difficult moments», explained António Teixeira. In fact, the new boat was duly blessed by Father Miguel, from Ferragudo, who, at the shipowner's request, poured holy water not only on the outside of the vessel, but also on the control room and on the engines and refrigerated holds.
In these things of the sea, technology is very important, but we cannot forget the willpower of men and their faith...
Photos: Elisabete Rodrigues|Sul Informação
Comments