Announcement made by Portugal’s Secretary of State for Tourism, as there are “no berths for superyachts in Portugal”
A project for the expansion of Portimão Marina will create 30 new mooring berths for superyachts. The plan was announced last week by Pedro Machado, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Tourism.
Entitled ‘Projeto de Segurança, Inovação e Otimização da Marina de Portimão’ (Portimão Marina Safety, Innovation and Optimisation Project), the venture is estimated to cost between €12 million and €14 million, and will also involve other works considered vital to the improvement of the marina.
From left: José Apolinário, president of the Algarve’s regional development commission (CCDR Algarve), Portimão mayor Álvaro Bila, Pedro Machado, Secretary of State for Tourism, and André Gomes, president of the Algarve Tourism Board
The new project was announced in the presence of regional leaders André Gomes, Algarve Tourism boss, Portimão mayor Álvaro Bila and president of the Algarve’s regional development commission (CCDR Algarve) José Apolinário.
“The creation of the Megayacht Project at Portimão Marina opens the door to the possibility of establishing a high-quality nautical destination, generating more direct and indirect jobs with the creation of new concierge services. Consequently, this adds more value to the local and regional economy, given that the potential clientele has significant purchasing power,” says the project’s study.
Ricardo José, Portimão Marina Director, presenting the expansion project
The project involves replacing the floating breakwater system with fixed pontoons at the marina’s entrance, and as the project’s study shows, one breakwater will extend from the existing south jetty, while a new, extensive breakwater will be built on the north side. The south breakwater will feature 12 berths for boats up to 20 metres, while the larger north breakwater will boast 18 berths for boats up to 45 metres.
The marina will be able to welcome dozens of superyachts that every year show an interest in stopping over in Portimão but end up “travelling to other marinas along the Mediterranean which have the capacity to welcome them”, the study says.
The expansion of the Portimão Marina will not interfere with the Ferragudo Marina project or the project to expand Portimão port to welcome larger cruise ships.
André Gomes, president of the Algarve Tourism Board
Algarve Tourism chief André Gomes spoke to the Portugal Resident after the presentation, sharing that the plan for the expansion of the marina and cruise port in Portimão and the long-awaited construction of the marina in Ferragudo is to ensure that these infrastructures “complement each other”.
While the Ferragudo Marina project has been in limbo for years due to legal issues, it is a project that Gomes said is “very important for the region” and which tourism authorities will continue to “follow closely”.
Article originally published by Beatriz Maio and Michael Bruxo on Portugal Resident.
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