"I recently went to the Netherlands, where the shipowner or builder of Baía Farta is located, to sign an agreement that defines the deadline for repairing non-conformities and, consequently, the delivery of the ship to the Angolan Government, by May 2024", stated the minister, in an interview with Angop.
According to Carmen dos Santos, the ship is in a position to carry out scientific research, however, "there is a problem with the winches that launch the nets and watch over the fishing and oceanographic part, as well as the collection and studies of micro-plastics in the sea".
Thus, she reinforced: "The ship's only problem is the issue of the winches, which must be repaired within the deadlines defined in the initialed agreement."
Quoted by Angop, the minister took the opportunity to recall that the vessel is currently docked in Cape Town (South Africa), where the Damen shipyard is located, the company responsible for repairing the ship.
Carmen dos Santos also informed that as soon as the ship returns to the country, the sector under its supervision will put into practice scientific research programs, a mechanism that constitutes the basis for establishing the Total Allowable Catches and the way of sustainable management of the action fishing in Angola, writes Angop.
The minister also made it known that, in addition, the National Institute of Scientific, Fishery and Marine Research is training teams that usually carry out research cruises, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, as well as the Norwegian ship 'Dr. Fridtjof Nansen' and the Oceanographic Institute of Spain.
Thus, the holder of the Fisheries and Marine Resources portfolio, cited by Angop, considered it highly important for the country to have its own research vessel available, in order to systematize information and improve the management of marine resources, among others.
Baía Farta arrived in Angola in 2018, but it was only in April 2021 that it completed the first phase of sea tests/trials to check whether the nonconformities and damage found during the journey between the country of origin, in this case Romania, and Angola.
According to Angop, the vessel, whose budget is approximately 80 million dollars, is 74.1 meters long, is capable of accommodating 51 people and has an autonomy of 29 days at sea.
