Faro City Council in southern Portugal has announced that the transfer of the commercial quay to municipal management will be signed on 18 September, which will pave the way for the “Hub Mar” project and its planned marina after almost a decade without regular activity in the area.
Planned for the inner section of the commercial quay, the marina would have capacity for around 500 vessels, alongside facilities for nautical activities and research. The council said the project aims to regenerate the area, support heritage, culture and tourism, create jobs and bring more activity to Faro throughout the year.
The council considers the management transfer the first step towards the “Hub Mar” project. Plans are “practically complete”, and an environmental impact assessment is expected to begin within one to two months, followed by a review from the relevant authorities, Barlavento reports.
Faro mayor António Miguel Pina has previously spoken about the long wait for the project and earlier proposals that did not progress beyond planning. In a social media post in May, he said, “It is a dream that has been put on hold for far too long.” The post came after a working meeting with minister Miguel Pinto Luz, when Pina said the municipality had 120 days to transfer the commercial quay to local authority management.
