The President of the Government announced today that the Azores Maritime School on the island of Faial will start operating next year. This investment of over four million Euros is decisive for the Region to boost the profitability of this important asset - the sea.
 
"I would like to emphasise the importance that this investment not only for the island of Faial, but also for the entire Region. This is a decisive and fundamental step in creating the conditions to boost the profitability of the fundamental asset, which is the Sea," said Vasco Cordeiro. He spoke after visiting the works that also allowed the recovery of the old facilities of the former Horta Naval Radio Station.
 
Speaking to journalists, Vasco Cordeiro stated that the Azores Maritime School (EMA) will be specifically aimed at the qualification and training for a series of sea-related occupations, such as fisheries, merchant navy, port operations, maritime tourism operators and diving, among others.
 
"With the Azores Maritime School, these areas will project the island of Faial and the Azores to a new level in terms of conditions to seize this enormous potential," said Vasco Cordeiro. The project includes a partnership between the Government of the Azores, the Horta City Hall, the University of the Azores and Infante D. Henrique Nautical School.
 
According to him, the contract work with a budget over four million Euros is expected to be completed this year. Simultaneously, public tenders are being prepared for the purchase of several equipment amounting to more than one million Euros.
 
"The course certification process is already under way. The respective documents have already been sent to various entities with powers to certify these courses and the partnership itself is already at an advance stage of formalisation," said the President of the Government.
 
In 2019, EMA will have the necessary conditions to enter into operation, not only in terms of infrastructures but also in terms of course certification, said Vasco Cordeiro. As he stated, this project has the ambition to train Azorean students as well as students from other regions of the country and foreign countries.