The ferry connection between Portimão and Funchal may be resumed as early as next June. Grupo Sousa, through Empresa de Navegação Madeirense, was the only one that decided to compete in the public tender for the maritime line between the mainland and Madeira and the decision of the jury should be known by the end of next week.
Second the Madeira Newspaper, if the Regional Government of Madeira accepts the proposal, the first trip can take place next month.
According to the Madeiran newspaper, "the Sousa Group is committed to ensuring the first of the 12 mandatory annual trips (round trip) in the month of June if the Regional Government decides to validate the proposal presented."
This operation must be carried out by a Naviera Armas ship, as in the past, which will be chartered by Empresa de Navegação Madeirense.
Jornal da Madeira adds that “if a passenger does not need the comfort of a cabin, the round trip is valued at 60 euros. But the rates vary according to the convenience you want».
The proposal provides for 12 trips between June and September, from 2018 to 2020. Each year, one trip will be made in June, four in July, four in August and three in September.
Pedro Calado, Vice President of the Regional Government of Madeira, heard by Antenna 1, confirmed that Empresa de Navegação Madeirense was the only one to present a proposal and considers that «what must be done is to wait for the jury to pronounce itself. The most important thing is to know what the terms of the proposal are, what the conditions are».
According to the official, «the jury is opening the proposal, is carrying out a technical analysis of the technical requirements of the proposal and has to give the company a deadline to give its opinion. I think that during the course of this week or the next we will have more information».
This is the second attempt to find someone interested in securing this line, which has already worked. between June 2008 and January 2012, after not having appeared interested in the competition launched in early 2016.
If the Madeiran company's proposal is accepted, it will receive 3 million euros per operation.
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