Atlânticoline, a public company that manages maritime passenger transportation between the islands of the Azores, will put into service first of two new ships soon. The fist vessel is already in testing and should reach the Azores by the end of the year. It should come into operation in 2014.

At 132 feet long, the new ferry has the capacity to transport up to 333 passengers and eight vehicles, and will serve in the central group of the Azores between the islands of Faial, Pico, Sao Jorge, Graciosa and Terceira. Transmaçor will operate the ferry for daily service. The second ferry should follow in 2016.

The current ferry fleet, built in the 1980s, does do not have the capacity to transport vehicles.

Atlânticoline offers weekly ferry service including transport of autos, cargo and passengers service between all nine islands May through September.

Transmaçor provides daily passenger and cargo service between the islands of Faial, Pico, and São Jorge all year.

http://www.transmacor.pt