The speedboat and the corvette António Enes maintain the "maritime search and rescue mission in the search and rescue region of Lisbon" and "optimise the patrol and surveillance effort in that area", increase "coverage capacity and early warning of possible irregularities", reads a Navy information.

In response to questions from Lusa about the measures taken or to be taken after the arrival of yet another group of Moroccan migrants, on 21 July, the Navy states that the "episodes that occurred on the Algarve coast, related to vessels transporting people on board in a condition of overcrowding, highlighting the need to increase maritime surveillance of areas of national responsibility".

“This reinforcement in the Southern Maritime Zone aims to increase the capacity for detection, location, identification and timely reaction, always with a view to preserving maritime safety and safeguarding human life at sea”, reads the document.

The reinforcement of means of maritime surveillance in conjunction with the National Maritime Authority is still under analysis, as a result of the “synergies that result from the support of the Navy to this entity” to “guarantee adequate levels of safety for those who walk at sea”.

The Navy does not comment on the existence or not of a new immigration route to the Algarve.