“We have already signed the contract with Docapesca to grant the space for 50 years and we are launching the tender for the construction of new moorings”, said the director of Vilamoura Marina, Isolete Correia.

In addition to the 800 spaces for smaller vessels, another 68 will be added for yachts between 20 to 40 metres.

The work will involve the creation of three jetties and one of the major works to be done will be dredging the area, to achieve the more than five metres of depth that will be needed for these vessels.

According to Isolete Correia, the new berths will allow yachts that are currently crossing the Algarve to be received without having a place to stay, as there is no marina that can receive them from the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea to Lisbon.

“The new space will bring even more purchasing power to Vilamoura and we hope it will mean an increase of 50% to the marina's current business volume”, John Calvão, responsible for the fund managed by Arrow Global, which owns the Marina de Vilamoura, told Lusa.

The administration of Vilamoura Marina estimates that construction of the future expansion will begin this year.