Vessel Azores Ocean will serve "Portugal as a whole" and consolidate Region's role in research field, highlights José Manuel Bolieiro

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, stated in Vigo that the research vessel Azores Ocean, launched today, will serve ‘Portugal as a whole’ and strengthen the Region's role in the research field.

During the session held at the Armon shipyards, which José Manuel Bolieiro thanked for their "competence, diligence and ability to deliver," he recalled the progress of the investment, highlighting the Azores' “commitment” to their sea.

"We are more sea than land and with science, we are developing an Atlantic country with relevance in the world. We are setting good examples. We are an example of sustainability," José Manuel Bolieiro also pointed out.

The research vessel is estimated to cost around 20 million Euros, an investment under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). As part of a strategy to increase energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact, this investment aims to build a modern platform with high technological standards in terms of capacity, equipment, and high energy performance.

For the President of the Government, initiatives such as the Azores Ocean represent "disruptive elements" that have as their core "a greater purpose that has to do with Azorean and Portuguese identity."

"This is not just an occasion for a political message or a political cycle but for a goal and a cause that transcends generations, regions and states," he continued, before recalling the Azores' role, also in the maritime field, in establishing Marine Protected Areas.

The Azores Ocean initiative aims to provide the Region with a technological platform for accessing the deep sea in the central north-east Atlantic, particularly the archipelago's Exclusive Economic Zone.

"The Azores want to be relevant in the future we are building today. With sustainability, science, research and service to humanity," José Manuel Bolieiro stated, reiterating his desire to transform “a Region of needs into a Region of opportunities."

The vessel will now be outfitted. It will travel to the archipelago at the end of 2025 and be registered in the Portuguese Flag Register as a research vessel with a minimum capacity of 20 people for global navigation, excluding ice zones, ten technical crew members and ten scientific crew members. In addition, the vessel will have a minimum capacity of 30 people on daily voyages.

The new research vessel will operate, among other things, in areas such as seabed mapping (bathymetry based on acoustic equipment), biological prospecting and exploration of organisms with biotechnological aptitude, support for the development of offshore renewable energy production technologies and staff training as part of the Azores Maritime School.

Among other equipment, the vessel will be fitted with electronic acoustic equipment to maximise the platform's research potential to a depth of at least 5 thousand metres.

With a length of 45.95 metres and a beam of 10.5 metres, the vessel will have an autonomy of 15 days, using diesel-electric propulsion. It will include cabins corresponding to the maximum capacity, a classroom, laboratories (dry and wet) and a data centre.

Together with the future Technopole - Martec research centre, which is to be built in Horta, the new vessel will bring new opportunities for scientific research and development in fisheries, biotechnology, and marine engineering.

Today's session in Vigo was also attended by organisations such as the Secretary of State for the Sea, Lídia Bulcão, representing the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral João Silva Pereira, representing the Chief of the Naval Staff. On the occasion, José Manuel Bolieiro highlighted the relations with the National Government and the Naval Staff, intending to continue strategic actions in synergy with both entities.