"It will allow us to monitor the sea more effectively and create a faster and more effective response”.

The 'Safe Coast' system, permits the control of navigation near ports by camera and radar surveillance using an electronic sea chart.

It was developed following an accident that killed five fishermen in Figueira da Foz.

The project initially envisaged the creation of 24 surveillance stations throughout the country, but ended up totaling 28, after a station on the north coast of Porto Santo (Madeira), was abandoned.

The system "supports search and rescue operations, anti-pollution work and the detection of illegal activities at sea".

"The system is very flexible, and the stations do not depend on each other. The harbour master in one area is not concerned about what the harbour master in an adjacent area has to see."

Although it was expected to be completed by the end of 2018, the system was only completed on July 4, with the installation of the local station in Setúbal”.

The stations are equipped with an "X-band" radar with a range of 24 miles (44 kilometres), a thermal optical camera (day and night vision), an automatic target identification and tracking system with associated alarms, a VHF radio and information management software and displayed on the electronic sea chart.

There are 15 stations in mainland Portugal, seven in the Azores and six in Madeira.