Disposal
Thanks to the good offices of the Manager of Marina de Lagos, we are able to have an annual “Flares Exercise” on the sands of Meia Praia. Here, we get experience of using these potentially dangerous items, while safely disposing of any that are out-of-date. This exercise is authorized, controlled and supervised by the local unit of the Maritime Police (Polícia Marítima).
In March 2013, we learned that the Polícia Segurança Publico (PSP) - whose office is beside the Stadium – will arrange for someone to come from Faro to collect out-of-date flares from any boat in the Marina. To make a booking for this service, take your passport, boat registration, berthing contract and a list of the flares, (NOT the flares!) to the PSP office.
The actual collection can take up to 4 weeks to materialize – and you do not receive prior warning of the date or time - but it has happened! We are currently trying to arrange some scheduled dates each year, so that we can organize a combined collection service.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD FLARE BE CARRIED ACROSS TO THE POLICE STATION. THIS IS ILLEGAL!
Purchase
To prevent pyrotechnics getting into the hands of football hooligans, chandlers in Portugal are now only allowed to sell flares to a yachtsman who has written approval from the Captain of the Port.
Getting approval requires a personal visit to the Captain of the Port’s office, opposite the Marina, to prove you are a Boat Owner. Take your Marina Contract, Boat Registration Document and Passport, and then pay the administration charge.
We have had conflicting reports that the PSP (local police) office by the Stadium also has to be visited. If this is correct there will be forms to be filled in and charges paid. They will contact their Head Office in Faro for the issue of authority to purchase - which will take a week or ten days to arrive.
In either case, when you have the authority”, just go to Sopromar who will then order your flares. They cannot hold a stock, but they will arrive in a day or two.