Africa-Press – Cape verde. The Ministry of the Sea announced this week that work on the first phase of rehabilitation of the former ONAVE (Oficinas Navais de São Vicente) is already under way. The works are aimed at reversing the high state of degradation that has been conditioning the provision of fishing shipbuilding and repair services.
According to a statement, the process of cleaning, removing and transporting debris and bushes is also taking place at the same time, as well as the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction of the north and south walls of the yard.
The first phase of the work is budgeted at PTE 2,148,660 (two million, one hundred forty-eight thousand, six hundred and sixty escudos) and is fully financed by the Government of Cape Verde through the Autonomous Fisheries Fund.
Ministry of the Sea wants to restore dignity to the former ONAVE
The Ministry of the Sea recalls that it approved an investment package in the order of 17 million escudos to restore the “dignity” of space and work in the former ONAVE shipyards, namely in the sense of “setting up the operational conditions and safety of people and of the men of the sea who work in that space, as well as to increase the performance in the fishing operations”.
Importance of ONAVE for the Blue Economy
The government considers that Onave’s shipyards are strategic for São Vicente and for the Blue Economy, hence the need for investments within the framework of the fisheries development plan. For its part, the Cape Verde Fisheries Association (APESC) highlights the ship repair shops in São Vicente) that are fundamental for the ship repair sector.
ONAVE was a small shipyard belonging to the State, offered by the Queen of Holland, which repaired small fishing and recreational vessels. It was liquidated in 2005 and has since been managed by a private shipowner.
However, since February 1, 2019, its management has passed to APESC, through the signing of a protocol with ENAPOR (Empresa Nacional de Administração dos Portos).
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