In May, during the celebrations of the Navy Day, in Póvoa de Varzim/Vila do Conde, the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral António Silva Ribeiro, announced that, in 2018, Póvoa de Varzim would receive the first lifesaver. modern lives and that it would be called “Cego do Maio”.

The new vessel is being built at Arsenal do Alfeite, S.A. and the Mayor of Póvoa de Varzim, Aires Pereira, was invited to visit the shipyard and check the manufacturing process of the new lifeboat.

The visit took place last Thursday, July 12, and Andreia Ventura, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Rui Rapaz Lérias and Miguel Silva Pereira, Board Members, and Pedro Paulouro, Resources Director, received Mr. Aires Henrique Pereira.

The Chairman of the Board began the visit with a presentation of Arsenal do Alfeite, its facilities and privileged location, the internationalization process, as well as the main strategic objectives of Arsenal do Alfeite.

The visit to the Shipyard also made it possible to visit some of its main distinctive capabilities, such as the Combat and Communications Systems Division, followed by the Mechanics and Carpentry Divisions, where the construction process of the innovative speedboats is underway. lifesaver for the ISN.

Finally, and after passing through the floating Dock, we visited the Dry Dock where it was possible to learn about the repair process of a large vessel, a place that will be the object, still in 2017, of an intervention with a view to its extension allowing the review of submarines of the Portuguese Navy fleet as of 2018.

The Mayor accompanied on this visit, the President of the Municipal Assembly, Afonso Pinhão Ferreira, the Vice-President of the Municipal Council, Luís Diamantino, the Captain of Portos Póvoa de Varzim / Vila do Conde, Captain-Lieutenant José Manuel Marques Coelho, the President of the Associação Pró-Maior Segurança dos Homens do Mar, José Festas, the Advisor to the Presidency, Colonel Paulo Esteves, and Ricardo Silva.

The Mayor expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Arsenal administration for the reception and possibility of knowing the construction process of the “Cego do Maio” lifeboat, which Póvoa will have in honor of this extraordinary Poveiro that in the 19th century saved so much people and was distinguished with the highest national decorations.

Aires Pereira wants to receive the vessel in our city in 2018, as part of the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Cego do Maio that the Municipality will organize.

Learn more at:www.arsenal-alfeite.pt