Page 53: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 2015)

the European Union, reaching the largest compliance with relevant international The country is well situated between number of vessels since its creation, with conventions, codes, etc. Portugal is also several markets in Europe, Africa and a total of 316 vessels registered in MAR, home to the European Maritime Safety the Americas.

Portugal Facts 53 more than the total number registered Agency (EMSA), which provides tech- There are also excellent bunkering at the end of 2013. A signi? cant achieve- nical assistance and support to the Euro- facilities. One major strength Portugal ment was the decrease of the average age pean Commission and member states in banks on is the coastal tourism sector

Following its heyday as a global mari- of the commercial vessels registered in developing and implementing European which has a good infrastructure base, in- time power during the 15th and 16th

MAR from 15.5 years at the end of 2013 Union legislation on maritime safety, cluding a large number of hotels and res- centuries, Portugal lost much of its to 12.5 years in late September. ship pollution and maritime security. taurants. Portugal is also widely known wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occu-

Portugal consumes about 600,000 tons as a ‘sun and beach’ destination. The pation during the Napoleonic Wars, and

Ship Building of ? sh a year, twice as much as it produc- highest concentration of tourism comes the independence of Brazil, its wealthi-

Despite the growth in shipping ton- es, and is the world’s third highest ? sh in the period from May to October and est colony, in 1822. A 1910 revolution nage, the shipbuilding industry is limited consumer per capita after Iceland and Ja- in speci? c regions such as the Algarve, deposed the monarchy; for most of in size. The world share of the Portu- pan. Yet the ? sheries industry is hardly Setúbal, Lisbon, Peniche (Berlenga), the the next six decades, repressive gov- guese shipbuilding industry was only growing with only 74 vessels of up to 80 Azores and Madeira. The reason behind ernments ran the country. In 1974, a 0.002% in 2012 in terms of completion meters in length. the gradual development of the tourism left-wing military coup installed broad (measured in GT). Portugal has around sector in Portugal is mainly: the increas- democratic reforms. The following year, ? ve major shipyards and around 200 ship Oil & gas ing number of European citizens travel-

Portugal granted independence to all of repair companies, some of which are Though relatively modest offshore ex- ling abroad for their holidays; the length its African colonies. Portugal is a found- very small facilities, with minimal activ- ploration is taking place, Portugal has of the country’s coastline; and the good ing member of NATO and entered the ity. The biggest shipbuilder engaged in good potential to become an oil & gas weather conditions of the country.

EC (now the EU) in 1986.

newbuilding is Estaleiros Navais de Vi- storage, shipping and services platform. ana do Castelo, S.A. (ENVC), which is

Population: 10,825,309 currently owned by Empresa Portuguesa (July 2015 est./80th in the World) de Defesa SGPS S.A. (EMPORDEF), a public holding, held 100% by the Portu-

Area: guese government. The other companies

Total: 92,090 sq km also construct small ships (below 100

Land: 91,470 sq km

GT) such as passenger ships and ? sh-

Water: 620 sq km ing vessels, and some also work in the

Note: includes Azores and sector of manufacturing offshore equip-

Madeira Islands ment. Lisnave is dedicated exclusively to ship maintenance. The situation has

Coastline: 1,793 km

Waterways: 210 km (on Douro River been weakened by an inadequate re- from Porto) search and development (R&D) base.

Employment in the shipbuilding and

Maritime Claims maintenance / repair industry as a whole territorial sea: 12 nm has been decreasing. Where the number contiguous zone: 24 nm of workers involved was around 10,000 exclusive economic zone: 200 nm in the late 1990s, this number has fallen continental shelf: 200-m depth or to to about 6,000 in 2006 which number the depth of exploitation further dropped to about 3,800 in 2013.

Since 2010, only one or two vessels have

Merchant Marine been constructed per year and published

Total: 109 statistics suggest that no new orders for

By type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 35, car- vessels over 100 GT have been received rier 1, chemical tanker 21, container 7, since at least 2009 (although the Portu- lique? ed gas 6, passenger 13, passen- guese government highlighted that or- ger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 3, roll ders were received in 2009, 2010 and on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 9 2011 by two shipyards, for asphalt car-

Foreign-owned: 81 (Belgium 8, Colom- riers, ferries and hotel river ships). The bia 1, Denmark 4, Germany 14, Greece

Portuguese government offers no spe- 2, Italy 12, Japan 9, Mexico 1, Norway ci? c direct or indirect support measures 2, Spain 18, Sweden 3, Switzerland 3, to the shipbuilding and maintenance /

US 4) repair industry, although ? rms have ac-

Registered in other countries: 15 (Cy- cess to general programs of export credit prus 2, Malta 3, Panama 10) guarantees and insurance, plus loans and

Ports & Terminals loan guarantees to small and medium-

Major seaport(s): Leixoes, Lisbon, Se- sized enterprises.

tubal, Sines

LNG terminal (import): Sines

Classi? cation Society

Portugal has a classi? cation society,

Registro Internacional Naval, SA (RI-

Source: The World Factbook

NAVE), established in 1973. RINAVE is 2013-14. Washington, DC: authorized to conduct surveys and issue

Central Intelligence Agency, 2013 certi? cates in order to verify a vessel’s www.marinelink.com 53

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