Portugal Invests EUR 3.4 million in a new Maritime Control Centre
- Valerie Charoux
- Feb 2, 2023
- 1 min read
Portugal is investing EUR 3.4 million in a new Maritime Control Centre (CMAR), out of which EUR 2.5 million comes from the MAR 2020 program. The new Control Centre will improve the surveillance of the sea under Portugal’s responsibility.
The Secretary of State for the Sea, José Maria Costa, just signed the contract agreement for the design and construction of the Control Centre. With this new Centre, Portugal will have the response capacity required for the surveillance and monitoring of navigation, while also providing capacity building for the Portuguese flag fleet.
The EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy comes with a set of challenges linked to Portugal’s accountability as a coastal state. With this new development, Portugal will have a stand-by response capacity and will have a higher service standard for both ships and security. The Control Centre will strengthen maritime surveillance as well as pollution prevention, including in marine protected areas.
Portugal’s maritime area requires the monitoring of over 80,000 large vessels, a number of which carry dangerous goods. Over 15,000 vessels carrying hazardous cargo call at Portuguese ports.
Portugal’s new Maritime Control Centre will be operational in August 2023 and will integrate the Maritime Traffic Control Centre, the Fisheries Monitoring Centre as well as control and surveillance activities.
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