Turnarounds quadruple in Funchal, big infrastructure plans ahead, says Madeira Ports President Paula Cabaço

‘The plan is to increase the pier by 400mtr because we want to receive bigger ships the industry is producing now, but also more cruise ships. We want to receive all our clients, we don’t want to leave anyone behind,’ explained Cabaço.

The project is estimated to cost €150m ‘because waters at the end of the pier are very deep, 30-40mtr’ with the port now looking for financial support for the work to be carried out. Studies are additionally being conducted for the installation of shore power and set to conclude at the end of the year.

It follows an earlier €5m investment made during the pandemic to improve conditions at the port. ‘We reinforced the walls at the south pier and installed new bollards,’ described the president, ‘we also created a new terminal at the north pier…to support operations, with embarkation and disembarkation of passengers and border controls.'

Follows heightened demand

The Port of Funchal has received 17 turnarounds this season - almost four times the number it received pre-pandemic – and January-August, there was a 20% increase in the total number of cruise calls compared to 2019.

‘We’ve increased turnarounds by 40% since pre-pandemic times - and received 13 new inaugural calls,’ stated Cabaço, ‘we want to increase calls on Transatlantic cruises.’

The port predicts it will receive 300 calls by the end of the year.

Porto Santo

Just over 30nmi away at the island of Porto Santo, there is also early discussion on the possibility of extending the 150mtr pier. But, remarked Cabaço, ‘We have discussed the possibility of increasing Porto Santo’s pier but we want to go step by step,’ while APRAM’s PR and commercial manager Patricia Bairrada added, ‘Never close the door, but… We want to keep it for small ships who go there.’ 

In 2019, three ships called at Porto Santo; so far this year it has received 17 calls and expects 23 by the end of 2022.

‘It is good because small ships can stop there [in combination with Funchal],’ said Cabaço.

Offering an explanation for the sudden increase, she added, ‘It is the new tendency of the consumer [since the pandemic] to have niche cruises, and we can offer the sophistications they demand.’