Municipal firefighters refilled the century-old Norwegian sail training ship Sorlandet with water on Sunday evening at the north quay of Funchal port. The vessel is due to leave shortly for Seville.
According to the report, training ships and other military or cruise vessels on long voyages avoid taking on water whose drinkability may be compromised. Stagnant water in port pipelines, caused by lack of circulation, can lose residual chlorine and change taste and odour.
The refill was described as exceptional, an emergency top-up, since the ship was scheduled to sail at 09:00.