Regional Government announces return of vessel Thor B on October 23 - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Government of the Azores has announced that the vessel Thor B will resume operations on October 23, ensuring that maritime freight transport to the Western Group islands returns to normal and that the fortnightly schedule planned for the 2026–2027 biennium is reinstated.

The resumption of operations will likewise ensure the full clearance of the cargo currently backed up and the transport of the livestock currently concentrated on the island of Corvo.

“The return of the vessel Thor B marks the full resumption of the maritime logistics operations for the Western Group islands, following a period when mandatory technical maintenance was required to ensure the vessel met all safety requirements,” stated the Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral.

According to her, “despite the constraints experienced, it was possible to ensure supplies to the population of Corvo through a contingency plan that mobilised alternative maritime and air resources.”

The vessel underwent technical inspections and mandatory maintenance work in dry dock for a month, in accordance with the legal and regulatory maritime safety requirements established by the Classification Society and Flag Administration. This work is an essential requirement for ensuring the continuity of operations in conditions of complete safety.

During this transitional period, the Regional Government implemented a series of measures aimed at guaranteeing regular supplies to the island of Corvo. These measures included a flight by the Portuguese Air Force to transport around three tonnes of essential foodstuffs, three journeys by the passenger craft Ariel to transport parcels and medicines, and the mobilisation of the vessel Isabel C to bolster maritime supply.

Whilst the vessel Thor B was absent, arrangements were made with the maritime cargo shipping company TMG to supply the island of Corvo. However, due to a breakdown on their vessel, they were unable to fulfil this task. For this reason, the Regional Government sought an alternative solution, using the vessel ISABEL C, operated by Barcos do Pico.

The operation carried out by the vessel Isabel C ensured the delivery to Corvo of 12 tonnes of refrigerated and deep-frozen products, 100 tonnes of general cargo and food supplies, 245 butane gas cylinders and 34,000 litres of fuel, guaranteeing the full replenishment of stocks deemed essential for the island’s population and services.

“With the return of the vessel Thor B, an intensive schedule of operations will be implemented to fully normalise the logistics chain and ensure the rapid distribution of accumulated goods. This operation will resume regular maritime transport at a particularly important stage for supplying the Western Group islands,” emphasised Berta Cabral.

The Government of the Azores reiterates its commitment to ensuring the continuity of supplies to the population, the safety of maritime operations and the resilience of transport links between the islands of the archipelago.