Estimated to cost between €12 million and €14 million, the project will boost nautical tourism and local economy
The new project for the expansion of Portimão Marina will create 30 new mooring berths for superyachts, announced Pedro Machado, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Tourism, last week 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.
‘Projeto de Segurança, Inovação e Otimização da Marina de Portimão’ (Portimão Marina Safety, Innovation and Optimisation Project) is estimated to cost between €12 million and €14 million, and will also involve other works considered vital to the improvement of the marina.
“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,” according to the project’s study.
The plan forsees 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 new project will have space for 12 berths for boats up to 20 metres in the south breakwater, and a larger north breakwater will accommodate 18 berths for boats up to 45 metres.
With the new project, Portimão 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”, according to the study.
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.
Algarve Tourism chief André Gomes spoke to the Portugal Resident after the presentation, stating that the plan for the expansion of the marina and cruise port in Portimão and the long-awaited construction of a marina in Ferragudo is to ensure that these infrastructures “complement each other”.
Although the Ferragudo Marina project has been paused 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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