Quarteira's Fishing Port will have a Salva Vidas Station and the Algarve coast will be “safer”. The new equipment, which fills an "existing need", should be in operation in the summer of 2020, according to Nuno Cortes Lopes, commander of the Southern Maritime Zone, to Sul Informação.
In addition to the Salva Vidas Station, a Maritime Police post will also be installed in the fishing port, in the former IPTM building.
The spaces needed for the installation of this equipment were provided by Docapesca, the work is the responsibility of the Maritime Authority, but it will be the Municipality of Loulé that will advance the 725 euros necessary for its completion.
This tripartite agreement was registered last Saturday at a ceremony attended by Ana Paula Vitorino, Minister of the Sea.
Cortes Lopes told the Sul Informação that “the main priority is the Estação Salva Vidas”. The commander explains that, «if we look at this equipment, we have a station on the coast in Olhão and one in Portimão. There was a shortage within a space of 30 miles and the work had never advanced due to financial incapacity. Now, with the support of the Loulé Council, it has been possible and we are counting on having the station as of June of next year», with three crew and a semi-rigid boat.
The official also considered that this investment "will greatly improve security in the fishing port of Quarteira, which is widely used." It also benefits the Vilamoura and Albufeira marinas. This whole area is very popular, especially in summer».
The new Maritime Police post, on the other hand, “will allow for a greater presence in a place that has a very intense use, as well as strengthening protection and inspection. This was an old ambition. 15 years ago, the last permanent men we had in Quarteira left and stayed in Faro. The Faro to Quarteira, it's always half an hour away and every minute counts when we're talking about saving lives».
According to Commander Cortes Lopes, the largest portion of the Loulé Council's investment will be to create accommodation for «those placed. Docapesca provided the infrastructure of the former home of the faro[in the city center], which will be reconverted. Five apartments will be built”.
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