Portuguese ports to combine purchasing power

The scheme will start later this year and, according to Vítor Caldeirinha, president of the Ports’ Association of Portugal (APP), this will “generate economies of scale and increase the bargaining power” of port administrations with their suppliers.

At present, national ports contract out the purchases and services worth a combined €28m a year. Telecommunications, insurance, vehicle acquisition, safety and dredging are now all earmarked for potential joint purchases, which could make annual savings of €4.2m by 2020, although some savings should also accrue this year.

Participation in the scheme will be entirely voluntary, although Mr Caldeirinha believes that all ports would benefit.

Separately, the Sines and Algarve Port Administration (APS) and Polis Litoral Ria Formosa have signed a Memorandum of Technical and Financial Cooperation covering development the Port of Faro.

The protocol aims to improve all the maritime area of the port that are in the maritime public domain and also retrain the riverside area that is under the jurisdiction of the APS. Investment will be in the order of €3.2m, with an EU contribution already secured.