The Government of the Azores is creating the necessary conditions in regional ports for a faster, cheaper and efficient inter-island transport of goods.

These improvements in regional ports, such as the construction of roll on/roll off ramps, will enable a producer to travel by boat with a vehicle loaded with cargo and deliver the goods on another island without the need of handing cargo.

This advantage was explained today by the Regional Secretary for the Economy during a session of questions to the Government on various issues.

Speaking on the theme "Maritime transport of goods to the islands of cohesion," Vasco Cordeiro also said that the call for tenders for maritime transport operations in the archipelago include vessels equipped with stern ramps in order to improve the speed and efficiency of operation in the recently built port facilities.

Regarding the measures intended to reduce the overall costs of cargo handling in regional ports, including cargo transported in containers, the government official added freezing port operation fees will avoid further rises in the costs for the final recipient.
 
Vasco Cordeiro also considered that the average reduction of 25% in port fees for the export of goods is an effective support measure as well as an incentive to boost regional production.

The Regional Secretary pointed out that the freight rates, compared with 2011 figures, register "a significant drop." When compared to 1995, "16 years ago, a 20 feet container had cost of 1,812 Euros, being now of 1,636 Euros. In turn, 40 feet containers "had a cost of 2,900 Euros which has dropped to 2695 Euros," the Regional Secretary mentioned, adding that in the case of refrigerated containers the reduction of costs is even more significant, registering a decrease of 18% in the transport outside the Region.

In the case of inter-island transport, the price difference between 1995 and 2011 is considerable: "the costs of 20 and 40 feet containers registered a decrease over 50% and in the case of refrigerated containers this reduction was of 30%," underlined the government official.

"This is the effort we have been undertaking in a context marked by the pressure exerted by external factors."

The restructuring of maritime transport is not isolated as several advantageous changes have been also introduced in air and land transports.

Furthermore, Vasco Cordeiro mentioned the incentive schemes aimed at the promotion of an internal market as the inter-island transport of regional productions will become more efficient and cheaper.