Tag: portugal

Reports have mentioned that authorities in Lisbon have arrested an elderly couple aboard the cruise ship Marco Polo on accusations of smuggling cocaine. The suspects are now being held in preventive custody pending trial. 

The first project-financed floating wind farm received funding from the European Investment Bank, which will provide a EUR 60 million loan to Portuguese company Windplus for the wind farm. The project will be the biggest floating wind farm in the Iberian Peninsula.  

Divers have discovered a 400-year-old shipwreck believed to have sunk off Portugal waters, after returning from India laden with spices. Archaeologists believe this is the greatest history finding of all times in Portugal and 'the discovery of the decade' from a heritage perspective globally.

Ana Paula Vitorino, Portugal’s Minister of the Sea at Portugal Shipping, announced the launch of WISTA Portugal, joining 44 other National WISTA Associations. The aim of the Portuguese NWA is to be a partner, for the promotion of Portugal’s “Blue Economy”. 

On the sidelines of the Second Energy Interconnections summit on 27 July, European leaders signed the Lisbon Declaration, aiming to strengthen regional cooperation in the framework of the Energy Union and better integrate the Iberian Peninsula into the internal energy market.

In order to limit maritime crime on the Gulf of Guinea waters, and especially piracy and sea robbery, the Nigerian Navy along with France, China, Portugal, Cameroon, Ghana and Togo conducted a maritime exercise named Exercise EKU KEGBE, of which 12 Nigerian Navy ships and ships from the other countries were deployed.

Portugal passed a new law last week, introducing new tonnage tax. The new tonnage tax is part of Portugal's attempt to improve its shipping industry. This includes measures to improve shipping, maritime labour, infrastructure and maritime suppliers. With this law, Portugal aims to attract new shipping companies by providing attractive conditions.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a Portuguese tonnage tax scheme, which, together with a scheme to support seafarers, will encourage ship registration in Europe and contribute to the competitiveness of maritime transport, while preserving employment and promoting high environmental standards.

The NGO Transport & Environment released a ranking in which it presents the best and worst performing countries in Europe's attempt to reduce GHG emissions. Germany, Belgium and France are the top performers, while Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Portugal and Croatia are the worst.

The operation involved the refuelling of the 'AIDAprima', an environmentally friendly cruise ship and the first LNG-powered cruise liner. The amount of LNG that was provided to the ship is equal to the average daily consumption of 42.000 households.