Atlanticline: Gilberto Mariano Ship repaired by the end of the week

A Atlanticoline reported that, following the “technical anomaly” detected last week, which forced the unscheduled immobilization of the ship, “the work necessary for its repair and subsequent reintegration into the shipping operation of passengers and cars in the Central Group” of the archipelago is already under way.

“The completion of the work is scheduled for the end of this week. After repair, it will also be necessary to carry out the mandatory technical checks and procedures, essential to ensure that the ship meets all the safety conditions necessary to resume the operation”, he said.

The company acknowledges the impact that the situation is causing on passengers and “takes responsibility for the constraints directly arising from the immobilization of the ship”.

Ensures that you are monitoring the situation permanently and adjusting the operation whenever necessary, “seeking to reduce as far as possible the impact on passengers”.

While the Gilberto Mariano remains out of service, the Atlantic Line has carried out several readjustments of the operation, notably by changing schedules and itineraries and using the Cruise of the Canal and Cruise of the Islands in some connections.

The Atlanticline explains in the note that readjustments have enabled all travel to passengers without a car to be ensured, but the situation is “particularly demanding with regard to the transport of cars”, due to the high demand at this time of year.

The company regrets the disturbances caused by the situation, reaffirming its commitment to minimize the impacts on passengers and to resume the regular operation as soon as possible, “as soon as all the necessary technical and safety conditions are met”.

On Friday, Atlanticoline reported that “following an internal inspection carried out in the context of regular maintenance work, a technical anomaly was detected on the ship Gilberto Mariano, a situation that requires its unplanned stop for intervention”.

Since 2020, the seasonal operation of Atlanticline, which connected all islands of the archipelago (with the exception of the Corvo), with larger vessels, has been suspended between May and September.

In the months of high season (from June to September), there are now only sea links between the islands of the Central group (Third, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Faial) and between the Flowers and the Raven (West group).

At the low season, the company that provides maritime passenger connections in the Azores makes trips only between the so-called islands of the Triangle (Pico, Faial and São Jorge) and between Flores and Corvo.