The Coast Guard stations of Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde will receive a new semi-rigid maritime rescue vessel starting in 2027. The announcement was made by the mayor of Póvoa de Varzim, Andrea Silva, after a meeting with the Director-General of the National Maritime Authority, Vice-Admiral Diogo Arroteia.
The commitment had been announced hours earlier by Vice-Admiral Diogo Arroteia himself, during the ceremony for the inauguration of the new local commander. On that occasion, Arroteia guaranteed that the authorities would resolve the lifeboat issue on an interim basis by the end of the year and definitively after that date.
According to Andrea Silva, the favorable outcome results from a four-year negotiating effort between the Póvoa municipality, the Ministry of Defence, and the National Maritime Authority. The mayor highlighted that for a maritime council like that one, this equipment is indispensable.
Until the arrival of the definitive vessel in 2027, the National Maritime Authority will ensure an interim solution to guarantee the operability of the Póvoa de Varzim Lifeboat Station.
