Framework
Decree-Law No.16/2014, of 3 February, established the regime for transferring the port jurisdiction of the fishing and recreational ports of the former Port and Maritime Transport Institute, I.P. (IPTM) for Docapesca - Portos e Lotas, S.A .. Docapesca has thus become an authority in port infrastructures in support of fishing and recreational boating activities.
Under the terms of article 18 of the same legal instrument, the Directorate General of Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM) is entrusted with the functions related to port protection and dredging operations in the area of jurisdiction of Docapesca, established under the Article 2 and delimited in the plants annexed to the referred decree-law.
The DGRM is responsible for carrying out studies, projects and works that ensure the navigability and proper functioning of port infrastructures, namely in the following ports: Vila Praia de Âncora, Castelo de Neiva, Esposende, Póvoa de Varzim, Vila do Conde, Angeiras, Nazaré, S. Martinho do Porto, Peniche, Ericeira, Baleeira, Lagos, Alvor, fishing port, shipyards and Ferragudo area in Lagoa, Marina de Portimão and Arade river basin, Albufeira, Vilamoura, Quarteira, Faro (except commercial port area and access channel), Olhão, Fuseta, Tavira and existing infrastructure on the Guadiana River between Vila Real de S. António and Mértola.
In pursuit of these responsibilities, DGRM is responsible for carrying out maritime works, involving topics such as foundations engineering, stability problems (outside and inside water), dredging, knowledge and characterization of soils and sediments, stability and stabilization of natural cliffs, construction of submerged landfills as well as problems related to soft soils and improvement of their geotechnical characteristics.