The Regional Government will move forward with the procedures for chartering a vessel in order to guarantee the supply of cargo to the island of Flores.
 
The Maritime Authority has already issued a public notice introducing changes to the operating conditions of Lajes das Flores Port. It stipulates that vessels up 90 metres in length and five metres in draught are now authorised to operate in this port.
 
Additionally, the port can also be operated during night hours and, in this case, the Port Authority and the Maritime Authority should be contacted in advance.
 
This change to the operating limits of Lajes Port has become possible after all the intense and lengthy work carried out by the Regional Port Authorities. It has cleaned up the bottom within port basin, using the necessary human and technical resources to allow the entry of larger vessels.
 
It should be recalled that the Regional Government has issued recommendations to Atlânticoline, urging this company to carry out a market research to identify vessels with the necessary requirements to operate in Lajes das Flores Port, after amending the of the Maritime Authority's public notice.
 
Atlânticoline has identified, in the meantime, several vessel solutions that are compatible with new stipulated conditions.
 
With the necessary operating conditions guaranteed, the Regional Government will now move forward with the chartering of a vessel, whose solution is already under negotiation and is expected to be concluded in coming days.