Government subsidises installation of security system on board the Cruzeiro vessels
The Government of the Azores will subsidise, in nearly 75,233 Euros, the installation of the International Management Code for Safe Operation of Ships and Pollution Prevention (ISM Code) on the vessels “Cruzeiro das Ilhas” and “Cruzeiro do Canal.”
The decision is the result of an order of the Regional Secretary for the Economy, published in the Official Journal today, and is justified by the reason that it is an expense of the Region, under the concession contract of the aforementioned vessels to the company Transmaçor – Transportes Marítimos Açorianos, Lta. which was celebrated in 1998.
Vasco Cordeiro also stated that the maritime transport of passengers “is a fundamental activity for the socio-economic development” of the Azores, therefore the Transmaçor company “to implement” the ISM Code in those vessels had, as required by EU regulations.
The first stage of this plan comprised the installation of the system on board the vessels and the subsequent awarding of the temporary certification, which was completed in April 2008.
The second phase concerns the awarding of the final certification of the vessels, which was completed in May 2009, and the effective management and monitoring of the system.