Quarteira's Salva-Vidas Station is inaugurated, which closes a «large gap» in the Algarve

By Pedro Lemos • September 9, 2020 - 8:51

New Maritime Post, at the entrance of the Dock, was also inaugurated

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The new Salva-Vidas Station in Quarteira, which is already in operation, was officially inaugurated this Tuesday, 8 September, and represents the «filling of a large gap that existed in the Algarve», in the opinion of João Gomes Cravinho, minister of Defense.

The official was present at the inauguration ceremony, where he insisted on "underlining the importance" of this new Salva-Vidas Station, as well as the renovated Quarteira Maritime Post, which was also inaugurated.

By creating this new Salva-Vidas Station, «we are meeting the needs of a very important population that flock to the beaches, but also fishermen and sportsmen», considered João Gomes Cravinho.

The Salva-Vidas Station began operating in May this year and the space needed to install the equipment was provided by Docapesca.

As for the work, it was the responsibility of the Maritime Authority, but the Municipality of Loulé advanced with the 725 euros necessary for its completion.

In other words: it turned out to be a tripartite agreement that allowed the creation of the Salva-Vidas Station and the Maritime Post.

Admiral Luís Sousa Pereira, general director of the National Maritime Authority, considered that the works were a kind of «two in one: we increased our capacity to act in rescue and policing and created better conditions for those who work».

The new station fills a 30-mile shortage between Olhão and Ferragudo, where no such infrastructure existed.

“The Ferragudo station is one of the most active and they already have enough work in their area. Fundamentally, the capacity and response time have increased and the great asset is this», explained Vice Admiral Luís Sousa Pereira.

Across the country, the lack of a device between Ferragudo and Olhão was even “the most pressing and worrisome situation”.

Now, «some adjustment that will be made has to do with the typology of the vessels, but my appreciation is that we have a very balanced device with a very large response capacity».

By the end of the year, guaranteed the general director of the National Maritime Authority, a "medium-capacity semi-rigid vessel will be placed in Quarteira, which is the type of vessel most used in maritime rescue". In addition, an increase in operational is planned – there are currently four to six.

What is certain is that, in a few months, «the lifeguard has already intervened in 51 occurrences», according to data from minister João Gomes Cravinho. "These are lives saved and that alone represents the full recovery of the investment", he considered.

For Vítor Aleixo, mayor of Loulé, the inaugurations of the Salva-Vidas Station and the Maritime Post were moments full of “symbolism and hope”, not least because Quarteira has a history “intimately linked to the people of the sea”.

The city has, with these new features, a "safety level of excellence", he concluded.

Photos: Pedro Lemos | Sul Informação