There will be a ferry service between Madeira and the Portuguese mainland as from the summer of 2018
The deadline is up for applications to run the weekly passengers and goods service out of Funchal and there has been a veritable queue of ship owners, 13 to date, interested in managing the weekly connection.
The Madeiran government launched the tender last August. This was extended by 45 days as the first document was riddled with inaccuracies, but now the bids are in.
The regional government explained that "three million euros will be allocated annually from the Regional Budget to compensate the ship owner who will ensure the service is run over the three years of the concession."
Madeira's government also will move forward with a complementary package of incentives, including "significant changes" in port taxes and a promotional plan to attract regular customers.
Pedro Calado, vice president of the Madeiran government, commented, "One thing we can promise, and we will keep this promise, in the summer of 2018 we will have a ferry service for Madeira."
The government said that there are still several possibilities, but one way or another, its promise will be fulfilled.
