A ferry link between Madeira and mainland Portugal should be assessed as a public service and a strategic transport connection, rather than simply a commercial passenger operation. This perspective was put forward by speakers at a JPP parliamentary conference on ferry services and territorial continuity.
The debate focused on an economic and financial study commissioned by the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT), which examined six operating scenarios. None would generate sufficient commercial revenue to cover investment and operating costs without public funding. However, participants argued this does not prove a ferry unviable, questioning whether the study's assumptions adequately reflected the potential importance of freight and wider economic benefits for Madeira.
The least financially negative scenario envisioned a fortnightly seasonal service, with an estimated negative net present value of €18.59 million. A year-round weekly service, while offering greater continuity and serving more passengers, would require substantially more public funding, with an estimated negative net present value of €144.21 million. The study concluded that any future service would need a clearly defined public-service model.
