75 million investment will “put the Douro running 24 hours a day” – Jornal de Negócios – Portugal

The European Union has already approved half of reimbursement of the funds required to complete, within one year, the first phase of the project “Douro’s Inland Waterway in 2020″, which will also cover the freight.

The Port Authority – Administration of Douro Ports, Leixões and Viana do Castelo presented this Thursday, July 23, an investment project valued at EUR 75 million to make navigable the approximately 220 kilometers from the Douro River from the mouth to Barca d’Alva. Last year, more than half a million passengers sailed the waters of the Douro.

“We have to walk in the short term, for safe navigation with communications along the canal and strong formation of all agents . working on it We want to put the river running 24 hours a day, “said the president of the Port Authority, Brogueira Days, explaining that several problems in terms of signaling, communications or locks – these have to be solved together with EDP -. “currently do not allow”

The first phase of the project, worth 4.7 million euros, is about to start after being confirmed July 10 the reimbursement (51%) the European Union, under the program “Bridging Europe”. The Port Authority estimates that by the end of the first half of 2016 will be completed this phase, which will include the hydrographic and topographic surveys, environmental studies to fix the layout and preparation of an emergency plan.

The second phase, that will absorb the bulk of investment (close to EUR 70 million) will be dedicated to the operation of a system involving traffic control, weather control, intermodal management and port management, involving changes to the navigation channel and the modernization of communications. Two sections of the river, closer to the mouth of the river Tua and Corgo river, need to be corrected to improve the security situation.

Increase tourists and goods

In a presentation made on board a ship built in 2005 in the shipyards of Viana do Castelo, Brogueira Dias pointed out that this is one of two waterways in the Iberian Peninsula, along the Guadalquivir, but it can have twice the length the Spanish track. On the day that will be inaugurated the new terminal of the Port of cruises, the manager stressed that the new infrastructure has a specific dock for ships that can dock and make the river link, can then be “used the Port of Leixões in conjunction with the Fairway of the Douro. “

The Secretary of State for Tourism said that” the Douro is one of the tourist activities in the country, has demand “and the Government had” an obligation to create conditions to improve the tourist experience and enhance security. ” “It is our obligation to do this to double the number of passengers. (…) The investments we make have to be a response to demand. Here the demand is there and can be increased,” said Adolfo Mesquita Nunes.

However, this project “Douro Inland Waterway in 2020″ to be achieved by the end of the decade, also covers the strengthening of the Douro river for transportation of goods. The president of the Port Authority gave the example of production of 500 thousand tons of granite produced annually in the north of the country and following for export by road transport that connects the harbor sea views. Currently, “only a small part is carried by the river, which can increase their share.”