Research Vessel “Mar Portugal”
2020-07-21 (IPMA)
On July 17th 2020, it took place the signature ceremony for the contract “Hull Mounted Scientific Equipment” that will further equip the research vessel “Mar Portugal”, funded by the EEA Grants / Blue Growth Program 2014- 2021. IPMA's partner in this Project is the Institute of Marine Research, from Norway
This ocean exploration multifunctional vessel enables IPMA to carry out its mission, contributing to the fulfillment of Portugal’s obligations. In the words of IPMA´s President, Miguel Miranda, this vessel is the kind of resources that Portugal must ensure to guarantee an effective participation in the ocean in the next decades.
The Minister of the Sea, Ricardo Serrão Santos, remembered the perseverance behind a long process, stressing the importance of the Maritime Registration Regulation that clarified how crew members can be hired. An important milestone was reached last week with the contract for maritime crew that resulted from an International public tender handled by IPMA being cleared by the Portuguese Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas).
The Minister also announced the intent of changing the vessel’s name to “Mário Ruivo", in honor of the Portuguese biologist, pioneer in the defense of the ocean and scientific research of the sea.
With the newly equipped vessel, IPMA can conduct multidisciplinary marine research centered essentially on the Atlantic Ocean, from coastal areas to ultra-deep environments. The main areas of expertise are environmental research, fisheries, geophysics, and also the capacity for operating the ROV Luso, owned by the Mission Structure for the Extension of the Continental Shelf (EMEPC).
The “Blue Growth” program of the EEA Grants - that funds this Project – is a partnership between Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - which, as partners in the European Union's internal market, have established a multi-annual financial mechanism to "promote a continuous and balanced reinforcement of economic and commercial relations "and through which" financially support the member states of the European Union with greater deviations from the European average of GDP per capita ", including Portugal.
The contract signing ceremony took place at IPMA´s building in Algés, and was attended (besides the above mentioned) by the Secretary of State for Planning, José Gomes Mendes, and the Norwegian Ambassador in Lisbon, Anders Erdal. The contract was signed by the Director-General for Sea Policy, Helena Vieira, and PMA’s President, Miguel Miranda.
The vessel "Mar Portugal" is 75 m long and 15 m wide, allowing for 30 researchers, technical teams and 16 crew members, with a 40-day autonomy. Before being converted, in 2013, into a deep-water research vessel (following the most demanding industry standards) it was initially a submarine defense and rescue vessel.
Imagens associadas
Director-General for Sea Policy, Helena Vieira, and PMA’s President, Miguel Miranda
Norwegian Ambassador in Lisbon, Anders Erdal
Secretary of State for Planning, José Gomes Mendes
Contract Signature
Minister of the Sea, Ricardo Serrão Santos
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