Funchal, Portugal, Feb. 25, 2025 (Lusa) - The Portuguese Navy plans to reinforce its resources in Madeira's Maritime Zone in 2026 with two coastal surveillance ships, Naval Commander Nuno Chaves Ferreira said on Tuesday, emphasising that these are new vessels.
"The Navy is currently undergoing a transformation process in which it is planned to acquire new resources over the next few years. As of mid-2026 we have planned the acquisition and integration of new trimaran coastal patrol vessels into the naval fleet, which will reinforce our maritime zones," he explained, announcing that two of these vessels are planned for Madeira.
The Naval Commander was speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the new commander of the Madeira Maritime Zone, Captain Bruno Teles, who replaces Rui Teixeira.
Nuno Chaves Ferreira said that the new patrol vessels have a "very significant capacity" for interception as part of the surveillance and inspection of maritime spaces, emphasising that the garrisons are estimated at between 15 and 20 crew members on each ship.
Currently, the Navy operates in the Madeira archipelago with the ship "Zaire", which "doesn't have the efficiency or modernity of the new resources", as the Naval Commander emphasised.
At the swearing-in ceremony for the new commander of Madeira's Maritime Zone, the representative of the Republic for the autonomous region, Ireneu Barreto, emphasised the Navy's importance and responsibilities in various areas, such as the safety of submarine cables, assisting vessels, and conducting search-and-rescue operations. The Navy also plays a role in preserving the marine environment, combating pollution, and protecting underwater cultural heritage.
Ireneu Barreto underlined the Navy's "particular commitment" to the defence of the Selvagens Islands, stressing that this created the conditions for establishing the Nature Reserve in that territory, the largest Marine Protected Area in the North Atlantic with full protection.
The representative of the Republic for Madeira also warned of the need for the law to "clarify the competences of the autonomous regions over the management of the maritime public domain".
Ireneu Barreto said that this clarification should be carried out "without jeopardising the integrity and sovereignty of the state, but also without giving in to temptations of centralism".
"I would therefore like to call for the competences of the autonomous regions to be disciplined in the management of maritime areas, with respect for the Constitution, with a view to joint and shared management," he said.
DC/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
