Swiss family shipping company, Scylla, and EUROMAR, the agency of the International Shipping Register of Madeira (MAR), have entered into a strategic partnership to establish Madeira as the home port for all new Scylla ships deployed on the Douro. This move will facilitate further expansion of Scylla's Douro fleet and to this end all ships will be registered under the Portuguese flag and managed by a new company within the Madeira International Business Centre in Funchal.
The first ship to be officially registered in Madeira was the MS Andorinha, built in 2020. The next addition to the Douro fleet, the Porto Mirante, will be christened in Germany this May and will then also sail under the Portuguese flag.
The Douro and the entire associated sailing area is very popular and enjoys strong demand for Scylla, especially among guests from the USA, UK and Europe. The Swiss shipping company will therefore continue to expand its portfolio in Portugal and also send new ships on the Douro. This year, it will be the Porto Mirante. In the coming years, the Scylla fleet as a whole will continue to grow - and the popular Douro shipping area will also benefit from this with additional ships.
Albrecht Gundermann, Managing Director of EUROMAR says: "We very much welcome the development initiated by Scylla. This confirms the register's intention to grow in inland shipping, resulting in a diversified fleet with modern vessels. Scylla's commitment to Portugal is also excellent news for visitors wishing to explore Portugal. A growing cruise fleet will create direct added value for the local shipping industry and create quality jobs on both the Douro and in Madeira."
The Port Authority of the Douro, Leixoes and Viana do Castelo. S.A. (APDL) also welcomes the operation of Scylla on the Douro and, even more so, its commitment to Portugal by establishing Madeira as the home port for the company's new ships operating on the Douro.
According to APDL, tourism on the Douro waterway has become increasingly important, especially for passenger ships. It is recognised as one of the most beautiful inland waterways, integrating three World Heritage Sites: Porto, the Alto Douro Wine Region and the Coa Valley Rock Art.
The tourist appeal of the region is reflected in the growing number of hotel ships, with mainly international passengers, and the increase in day cruises. The considerable growth in this segment, both in terms of passenger numbers and the variety of ship types, indicates that the Douro waterway is contributing to a constantly growing tourism dynamic. This is less seasonal and has a territorial dispersion beyond the major urban centres.
