Funchal, Portugal, March 17, 2025 (Lusa) - Porto Santo Line, the concessionaire for the ferry route between the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo, on Monday cancelled all services scheduled for Wednesday, due to bad weather, which is also affecting air traffic at Madeira's international airport.
On Wednesday, the Lobo Marinho will not be setting off from Funchal at 8 a.m. and returning from Porto Santo at 6 p.m., "due to the bad weather conditions forecast for Porto Santo, which could jeopardise the safety of passengers and the ship," reads the information posted on the concessionaire's official website.
Portugal's national meteorological office, IPMA, has placed the north coast of Madeira and the island of Porto Santo under an orange warning (the second most serious on a scale of four) due to forecasts of strong sea swell between 3 p.m. and midnight on Tuesday, with forecasts of north-westerly waves between 5 and 7 metres, which could reach a maximum height of 14 metres on the north coast and in Porto Santo.
The yellow warning will be in force for sea turbulence, heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 80 kilometres per hour in all parts of the region of Madeira.
According to the website of ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal, which manages the countries airports, four flights due to arrive in Madeira and the corresponding departures were cancelled, and seven planes diverted between 1 p.m. and 4.20 p.m., with these being flights by various operators and from various origins, although some aircraft took advantage of momentary improvements in wind speed conditions to land.
The harbour master of the Port of Funchal also had strong sea and wind warnings in force until 6 a.m. on Tuesday for the coastline of the Madeira archipelago.
The regional maritime authority emphasises its recommendations to the entire maritime community and the population in general regarding the precautions to be taken, both when preparing to go to sea and when at sea or in coastal areas.
Among the recommendations are strengthening mooring and surveillance of moored and anchored vessels, avoiding walks by the sea and areas exposed to sea waves, and refraining from recreational fishing.
AMB/ARO // ARO.
Lusa
