Exactly 43 years ago, the Regional Government of Madeira announced the acquisition of a Norwegian catamaran-type ship to establish the maritime connections between Madeira and Porto Santo. This was the first fast boat to operate on this route.
The purchase decision was made in plenary session of the Regional Government, under the presidency of Susano França, who at the time held the position of Secretary of Finance. The resolution came from the regional secretaries, who considered the acquisition necessary to improve the connections between the two islands.
The investment involved in this acquisition was around 260 thousand contos, a significant amount for the time. The ship acquired was the "Pirata Azul", a Norwegian catamaran that became a landmark in the history of regional maritime transport.
