The Minister of National Defence said that the Portuguese Navy's ship 'Mondego,' which broke down in March, is now fully operational and back on active duty.
Posts published in “Shipping”
The Chief of Staff of the Navy, Henrique Gouveia e Melo, categorically stated today that the latest incident aboard the NRP Mondego, which had to abort the mission in the Selvagens Islands, originated "from a human error" that the Navy is investigating.
After a series of setbacks and embarrassing delays, the NRP Mondego returned to the sea this morning, after having been moored in the Port of Caniçal after being towed by two tugboats after suffering yet another breakdown last week.
The Portuguese Labor Party (PTP), in a statement signed by Quintino Costa, expressed its "deep concern" for the state to which military resources in the Autonomous Region of Madeira have arrived.
The judgment of the three Russian citizens, two men and a woman, accused of drug trafficking, was read today after they were caught transporting cocaine on their sailboat in Madeira.
The military associations representing the non-commissioned officers and enlisted seamen aboard the beleaguered NRP Mondego, which had to be towed to the port of Caniçal this morning, after its electrical generators failed have spoken out.
I recently wrote that the NRP Mondego had left for the mainland. This was in part true, however, the ship has obviously demonstrated its 'seaworthiness conditions' by being unable to fulfill successive departure dates, two of which were scheduled for yesterday.
As on the mainland, inspectors from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) will join the strike scheduled from the 5th to the 10th of April.
Just after 10:30 this morning, the NRP Mondego was seen leaving and will return to its mainland base.
The former Portuguese Head of State, Ramalho Eanes said today that the case of the 13 soldiers who refused to board the ship Mondego, left him "disgusted." And refused to comment further.....However! He did go on to clarify his point.
Sérgio Marques told the deputies of the Commission of Enquiry that throughout the "invented works" in Madeira he "never felt any pressure" from the President of the Regional Government, from any member of the Government or from businessmen, namely Luís Miguel de Sousa and Avelino Farinha, to change the course of his policies.
The lawyers of the 13 naval personnel whose evidence will be heard tomorrow at the Military Judicial Police in Lisbon claim that "there are indications that evidence has been erased" by the Navy, and are worried that the case may be derailed in their pursuit of the truth.
The Union of Tax Workers (STI) has scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, the 20th of March, from 14 hours, in Funchal, a demonstration and strike against the professional devaluation and the collapse of the Tax and Customs Authority (AT).
As part of the committee of inquiry into alleged favours to economic groups, The President of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, was asked about 27 works carried out in Madeira, regarding the importance of their construction and whether budgetary expenditures were "acceptable."
After the Navy confirmed that all those who refused to undertake a surveillance mission last Saturday night were to be replaced, local newspaper JM, writes that the crew are still in Madeira but will be replaced before the arrival of Admiral Gouveia and Admiral Melo tomorrow.