BE/Açores seeks answers on Arquipélago’s future

BE/Açores submitted a filing to the Azores Legislative Assembly questioning the Regional Government's plans for the research vessel Arquipélago. The party warned that a possible deactivation could affect projects of the scientific community and asked for clarification on the employment situation of the vessel's 10 crew members.

The filing questions the costs, operation and maintenance of the new research vessel Azores Ocean and the Arquipélago, including the possibility of deactivating the latter. BE/Açores said the Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries put the Azores Ocean's operating cost at €18,000 a day, compared with between €2,000 and €3,000 a day for the Arquipélago.

The party said moving to a vessel with substantially higher costs without additional funding could force the reduction or cancellation of campaigns and compromise scientific objectives and commitments to funding entities. It asked whether keeping both vessels in complementary operation had been studied, given their different scientific needs and costs.

If the Regional Government deactivates the Arquipélago, BE/Açores asked whether it had evaluated the impact on projects of regional scientific institutions. It also asked what solution would be provided for approved projects whose budgets cannot absorb the new vessel's costs, and how continuity would be ensured for projects and programmes dependent on the Arquipélago, including monitoring protected marine areas and assessing fish stocks.

BE/Açores said it was indispensable to ensure continuity of ongoing work, financially affordable access to the new vessel and participation by the regional scientific community in defining priorities for its use. The party asked what alternatives to dismissal had been studied for the 10 crew members, including retaining their jobs or integrating them into other marine research support functions. It also requested access to studies prepared before the Azores Ocean's construction on its operating costs and suitability for scientific projects typically carried out by the regional scientific system.

The new reports identify António Lima, the sole PAN/Açores deputy, as the author of the filing submitted to the Azores Legislative Assembly.

The filing refers to the Regional Government as the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM administration.

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