Two maritime-tourist vessels, one with three and the other with four passengers on board, collided yesterday afternoon on the Arade River, with the causes of the accident currently unknown.
After an alert received from a local on the beach at 2:30pm, reporting that an accident had occurred between two boats in front of the Portimão Navy pier, members of the Portimão Maritime Police Local Command and crew from the Ferragudo Lifeguard Station were called to the scene, as well as members of the Portimão Fire Department.
“Upon arrival at the scene, it was found that the collision had resulted in three minor injuries, to whom first aid was already being given by members of the Navy ships that were docked at the Portimão Naval Support Point, as well as by a team of Marines,” said the National Maritime Authority in a statement.
The crew of the Ferragudo Lifeguard Station subsequently transported “two of the victims, two American women, aged 57 and 22, to the Ferragudo Lifeguard Station, where Firefighters assisted them and later transported them to hospital”.
The third victim, a 57 year old man, left the scene on his own, using his own boat.
The remaining passengers of the damaged vessels were transported by the crew of the Lifeboat Station and by the military personnel of the Navy ship's launch to the Ferragudo Lifeboat Station.
The owners of the vessels were notified that they cannot sail until an inspection is carried out to confirm their seaworthiness.
The local command of the Portimão Maritime Police took charge of the incident, and a maritime accident procedure was initiated to determine the causes of the accident, ensuring that there was no source of pollution in the Arade River.
Source https://postal.pt/algarve/ - Photo by AMN
