Atlantic Shipping issues official statement on the breakdown of the Atlantic Express ship

According to the statement, the incident occurred during the ship's last call at the Port of Vale dos Cavaleiros, on the island of Fogo, when a significant technical problem was detected in the vessel's main engine.

Victor DePina explained that the fault arose on Tuesday, November 4, and that Atlantic Shipping's technical team immediately tried to repair it on site. However, due to the seriousness of the breakdown, it became impossible to carry out the repair on the island, leading to the decision to transfer the ship to the city of Praia, where it will undergo more complex mechanical interventions.

"We tried to carry out the repair on site, but it proved impossible. The ship was then sent to the city of Praia for the necessary repairs," said the company's president, also expressing his sadness at the postponement of the trips and his solidarity with the passengers affected by the situation.

He stressed that the safety of the crew remains the company's top priority. "It is not possible to continue the trip without resolving the problem, due to safety issues," he stressed.

For his part, the Vice-President, John Brito de Pina, said that the fault was of a complex nature, requiring the intervention of specialized technicians and the purchase of spare parts and specific equipment from Germany.

"This is a delicate technical intervention, which could not be carried out using only the resources available on board," she explained, adding that the professionals and materials needed have already been mobilized and are on their way to Cape Verde, and are expected to arrive in Praia shortly for the work to begin.

Although there is still no exact date for the completion of the repairs, John Brito de Pina showed optimism that the problem would be resolved in a short space of time, guaranteeing that the company is making every effort to resume normal Atlantic Express operations as soon as possible.

The statement concludes by reaffirming Atlantic Shipping Company's commitment to safety, transparency and the quality of the services provided, acknowledging the inconvenience caused to its esteemed and valued customers, but appealing for everyone's understanding in the face of a "purely technical and unavoidable" situation.

With this intervention, the company hopes to guarantee the total reliability of the ship before it returns to sea, ensuring that the Atlantic Express will return to operations "in full conditions of safety and efficiency", reinforcing the maritime connection between the USA and Cape Verde.