Vessels stranded on Algarve beach removed on Tuesday – Portugal

The Chamber of Lagoa, in the Algarve, will try to remove on Tuesday four vessels stranded on the sand of Praia Grande, in Ferragudo, due to the occurrence of several storms, the president of the municipality told Lusa this Monday.

“Tomorrow, day 2 [de abril]a new attempt will be made to remove all the vessels that are there, since the owners, who have the responsibility to remove them, have not been able, through their means, to solve the problem”, Luís Encarnação told Lusa agency.

According to the mayor, the approach of the bathing season meant that the city council, in coordination with the captaincy of the Port of Portimão, decided to lead the process of removing the boats, with the costs of the operation subsequently being charged to the respective owners.

In total, there are three sailboats and a larger recreational vessel that, being anchored without a crew in the bulkhead and sheltered side of the jetty, could not resist the force of the wind and sea, and ended up breaking loose – the first time last October and the last one a week ago – and running aground on Praia Grande de Ferragudo, a few dozen meters away.

“We are close to the bathing season and, therefore, we cannot have boats there”, insisted Luís Encarnação.

The municipal official said that, in the future, an organized system with poitas – stones or heavy objects that serve as anchors – should be installed, in which the owners of the vessels are duly identified and can be contacted.

“Naturally, they will also pay the respective fee for occupying a space that is a space in the maritime public domain”, added the president of that municipality in the district of Faro.

The four boats have been a tourist attraction, especially on weekends, when many people go to that beach to see and take photographs next to the boats stranded on the sand.

This beach is on the left bank of the mouth of Arade, right before the sea protection jetty, and in front of Portimão, which is on the other side of the river.

On March 12th, an attempt was made, which ended up unsuccessful, to remove the three vessels that were immobilized in Praia Grande at the time.

The dates chosen to remove the boats are related to the existence of so-called ‘spring tides’, a high tide that coincides with a new or full moon.