Viana do Castelo City Council approved an addendum to its 2021 contract with WestSea, granting tax incentives for a 24-million-euro dry dock investment. WestSea requested modifications last November, citing delays due to an Environmental Impact Study.

Therefore, the municipality has now reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the project through various incentives and investment programs established in the original agreement. Originally, the 2021 contract anticipated a 4-million-euro investment, but this has now been significantly expanded.

WestSea stated that various external factors, including approvals from multiple entities, have extended the project timeline, with completion now expected by 2028. The new dry dock will replace the existing facility, allowing it to accommodate ships up to 200 meters long with greater width and depth.

The addendum received majority approval, with votes in favour from the PSD, independent councillor Eduardo Teixeira, and the CDS-PP, while the CDU voted against it. The dry dock project was initially launched in 2020 at the former Viana do Castelo Shipyards (ENVC).

At the time, Martifer administrator Carlos Martins highlighted that the new facility, measuring 220 meters by 45 meters, would strengthen WestSea’s ship repair capabilities for larger vessels. ENVC, formally dissolved in 2018, had been in liquidation since 2014 after a failed privatisation and EU scrutiny over undeclared public aid of 181 million euro.