Coastal navigation
Original title: Navegação Costeira
Account of the origins of subsidised steam navigation between Madeira and Porto Santo and of the coastal steamer service around Madeira begun by the Blandy firm in 1897.
The law of 27 July 1893, which authorised the government to subsidise a regular steam navigation service between Lisbon and the Adjacent Islands (Ilhas Adjacentes), also allowed support for a similar service between the islands of each of the two archipelagos. Under a provisional contract of 30 November of that year, concluded between the government and the trading firm Bensaúde & C.ª, regular sailings were established between Madeira and Porto Santo (‘holy harbour’), made by the small steamer Falcão, belonging to the Blandy house of Funchal. Towards the end of 1897 this firm began a coastal navigation service between Funchal and various landing places on the south and north coasts of Madeira. It was one of the most notable benefits ever conferred on the principal settlements of the whole island.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 02-
A law authorised the government to subsidise steam navigation between Lisbon and the Adjacent Islands and between the islands of each archipelago.
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A provisional contract with Bensaúde & C.ª established regular sailings between Madeira and Porto Santo by the steamer Falcão.
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At the end of 1897 the Blandy firm began a coastal steamer service from Funchal to ports on Madeira's south and north coasts.
Place
Places mentioned · 04
Abroad
- Funchal
Home of the Blandy firm and hub of the coastal service.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Lisbon
Portugal. Mainland end of the subsidised steam service to the Adjacent Islands.
The Portuguese capital, seat of the Relação court and of the Misericórdia whose privileges and statutes were extended to Funchal. Henrique Franco de Sousa studied at its Royal Academy of Fine Arts, and Luiz José Baiardo moved there in 1821.
- Porto Santo
Island linked to Madeira by the regular steamer service from 1893.
An island of the archipelago, settled alongside Madeira and forming one of the three captaincies. It has always constituted a single parish, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Piedade, whose church was repeatedly sacked. The Elucidário records the Moorish pirate raid of 1617, its own Misericórdia and a rainwater channel built on this drought-prone island.