The number of cruise companies choosing the Port of Funchal (Madeira) as a supply base for their ships has been steadily rising.
Container operations, which until 2022 were not particularly significant at the Port of Funchal’s cruise terminal, gained importance last year, becoming more consolidated in the final quarter. Throughout 2023, the Operations and Safety office of the Administration of Ports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (APRAM, S.A.) recorded 42 supply operations involving containerized cargo, handling a total of 139 containers. This year, even with December still unaccounted for, the number of supply operations has already reached 57, involving 203 containers.
This growth can be partly attributed to the increasing number of cruise calls at the Port of Funchal but is mainly driven by how companies perceive the capacity and efficiency of the port’s infrastructure and resources.
“The fact that major companies such as AIDA, TUI, P&O, and Marella regularly choose the Port of Funchal for ship supplies demonstrates, on the one hand, our competitiveness as a cruise destination and, on the other, the quality and responsiveness of our human resources,” highlighted Paula Cabaço, President of APRAM, S.A.
Economically, these operations have a limited impact on revenue for Madeira’s ports but produce a significant multiplier effect on the regional economy. “The local companies are the primary beneficiaries of these operations, which impact the entire shipping chain – shipowners, transporters, logistics providers – and also local suppliers,” emphasized the regional port authority president.
Paulo Falé, Director of Operations and Safety, added: “Through the provision of these services, using equipment and skilled operators, APRAM meets the companies’ needs, creating a positive impact on Madeira’s economic fabric.” He explained that beyond logistics, which involves the container being unloaded at the Port of Caniçal and transported to Funchal, there is also a notable economic impact on local suppliers.
Beer, wine, fresh produce, and other perishables are the most sought-after products for ship supplies, predominantly provided by regional companies. Even British cruise companies, which typically prefer onboard products from the UK to cater to their clientele, rely on containerized cargo arriving at Caniçal. These goods then enter the local supply chain for transportation, storage, and delivery. “In both cases, there is an economic added value that benefits our local business sector,” noted Paula Cabaço.
Operationally, Falé referred to an “increased responsibility” and a “challenge” for port management. “The growing demand for supply operations has implications for various factors,” he said, citing port occupancy, tidal conditions, and even how ships are supplied – whether from the bow or stern.
“This has a transversal effect on port operations, requiring case-by-case, ship-by-ship planning and coordination,” he explained, adding that the increased demand for such operations has led to greater investment by APRAM. “We focus on preventive maintenance of machinery and enhancing the training of our human resources to ensure greater operational redundancy.”
All this, emphasized Paula Cabaço, is done with a strong focus on sustainability. “We aim to make these operations increasingly sustainable, not just for the port but also for the city and the cruise companies themselves, which share our environmental concerns.”
It is worth noting that late November, the Port of Funchal received the award for the Best Sustainable Cruise Terminal in the World from the World Cruise Awards. In the previous two years, 2022 and 2023, Madeira had already won the title of Europe’s Best Cruise Destination. These accolades reflect the sustained growth of the Port of Funchal.
Last year, Madeira welcomed 279 cruise calls and set a record with 624,000 disembarking cruise passengers and 241,000 crew members – a 51% increase compared to 2022. For this year, the outlook is to surpass these figures in a market that last year generated over €53 million in Madeira’s economy.
