The Mobility and Transport Authority (AMT) today defended the update of public service obligations in the maritime transport of goods for the autonomous regions, warning that the current legal regime is 19 years old.
In response to a request from PS deputy Francisco César, to which the Lusa agency had access, the AMT admits the urgency of “updating” the legislation that regulates the transport of goods, taking into account the “current needs” of the Azores and Madeira.
“It is considered imperative to update and adapt the current legal regime of public service obligations, which has been in force for 19 years, namely in regulatory and sanctioning matters, as well as to consider whether the legal text takes due account of the current supply needs of the autonomous regions.”
The AMT, who regulate and supervises the mobility and transport sector, also reveals that it is “implementing a systematic monitoring procedure, of periodic collection of information on the fulfilment of public service obligations in the transport of goods” between the mainland, the Azores, and Madeira.
“To this end, it is essential to coordinate with the Regional Governments of the Azores and Madeira and with the IMT (Institute of Mobility and Transport), to share data on scheduled and executed trips and on cargo handling in the ports of the Azores. At the moment, information is awaited by the Regional Government.”
The AMT said that no violations of law were detected in the supervision actions on maritime transport between the mainland and the Azores, carried out in 2020 and 2023.
“Recently,” the Regional Government and the Horta City Council announced that they will move forward with a complaint due to “problems with the supply of goods” in Faial, but so far, “a request has not yet been received to verify such alleged non-compliances.”
The agency also points out that it is not aware of the technical study commissioned by the Government of the Azores on maritime transport in the region, nor of irregularities in the supply of inter-island connections.
“The AMT has not received formal communications from the Regional Government of the Azores regarding the transport of goods in the archipelago, but only those relating to the maritime transport of goods between the mainland and the Autonomous Region of the Azores and vice versa.”
