The Regional Secretary for Transport and Public Works announced in Ponta Delgada that the Region will immediately move forward with the construction of a new vessel to replace "Mestre Simão."
 
"The Administration Board of Atlânticoline, with the agreement of the Regional Government, has decided to move forward immediately with the construction of a new vessel similar to one that was declared as a total loss," revealed Ana Cunha. She spoke during a joint press conference with the President of the Administration Board of Atlânticoline, Carlos Faias.
 
The government official stressed that "nobody was expecting this misfortune," assuring that "everything is being done to return the maritime transport of passengers and vehicles on the "Triangle" islands (Pico, Faial and S. Jorge) to normalcy as quickly as possible."
 
"We count on the understanding of all those who use this service because it is certain that everything is being done so that things may return to what they were before, as soon as possible," added the government official.
 
The Regional Secretary recalled that the Azorean Government has been on the side of Atlânticoline "from the very beginning and is aware of all developments."
 
Ana Cunha "praised, once again, the courage, dedication and professionalism of the vessel's captain as well as of her crew in the evacuation of the 61 passengers who were aboard "Mestre Simão" in the morning of January 6."
 
"For the Azorean Government, regardless of the situation, the safeguarding of the human lives involved in this accident is firstly and foremost the most important aspect. Therefore, it will never be too much to mention and praise the procedures taken during the evacuation of passengers. Once again, I would like to thank all of them and all the entities involved," stressed Ana Cunha.
 
The Regional Secretary pointed out that, in recent weeks, "authorities, experts and various technical entities have been working on the removal of fuel, other pollutant and even materials aboard the vessel in order to avoid any source of pollution that could cause damage in that area of Madalena Port, i.e., in the area where 'Mestre Simão' ran aground."
 
Furthermore, all entities, namely insurance companies, are assessing the state of the vessel and considering the procedures to be adopted. With regard to this assessment, "insurers have concluded that the recovery of 'Mestre Simão' is not feasible, having declared the vessel as a total loss."