A yacht measuring about 20 meters was found sunk this morning in the Ria de Alvor, in the municipality of Portimão. The boat, which was anchored in the local port of refuge, has no apparent structural damage and must have been in water due to a malfunction in a valve.
Second revealed to Sul Informação the captain of the Port of Portimão, who sent elements of the Maritime Police to the site, the vessel “does not show any outward signs of degradation or damage, so it is unlikely that it had been collided or had a structural problem”.
“Most likely, an engine water intake valve has been damaged and water has started to take in. But this will only be known for sure when the boat leaves the water», said commander Santos Arrabaça.
The vessel in question is a small yacht «of the type motorsail, which can be sailed as well as powered'.
The boat's owner is not Portuguese and lives outside the country, but the Maritime Police has already got in touch with the person who was in charge of taking care of it. “That person was on the spot, provided his data and said that the owner is interested in removing the vessel from the water”, explained commander Santos Arrabaça.
For this, a plan will have to be presented to Docapesca, which has jurisdiction over the area where the vessel sank. “The boat is insured, so this should happen in the next few days. Otherwise, it will be Docapesca to remove it. In any case, the situation should be resolved in a few days», he explained.
This morning, a team of divers, hired by the owner of the vessel, visited the site to assess the situation.
Photos: Elisabete Rodrigues|Sul Informação
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