An Air Force Flight Carries Three Tonnes of Food to Corvo After Rough Seas and a Ship in Maintenance Left the Azores Island Short
The Air Force flew frozen food, fruit and vegetables to Corvo on Saturday after weeks in which the sea kept local boats from berthing and the island's usual supply ship was in maintenance. Another ship is due on Sunday, weather permitting.
A Portuguese Air Force aircraft flew three tonnes of essential goods to Corvo on Saturday morning, after rough seas and a supply ship's scheduled maintenance left the smallest island in the Azores short of regular deliveries for several weeks. The cargo included frozen food, fruit and vegetables, according to a statement from the Azores Government's regional secretariat for tourism, mobility and infrastructure, reported by the Lusa news agency.
The flight had been due earlier but was delayed by what the regional government called "an untimely breakdown". It said the operation restored supplies to the island's population and eased the shortages felt "in recent weeks".
Why the shelves ran low
Corvo, in the archipelago's western group next to Flores, normally gets its goods by sea. The ship that serves it, the THOR B, is in what the regional government described on Thursday as "mandatory scheduled maintenance", needed to keep its certification and its ability to operate on the island.
Local traffic vessels were meant to cover the gap, but the regional government said sea conditions had not allowed them to sail or to berth at Porto da Casa, Corvo's harbour. On Tuesday it used the Atlânticoline passenger launch Ariel to carry basic goods instead: more than 400 kilograms on regular crossings and 900 kilograms on one extra trip made only for that purpose, according to the statement. Saturday's flight carried more than twice that amount in one go.
What comes next
The regional government said a second ship, the ISABEL C, was due to unload essential goods and fuel, including bottled gas, at Porto da Casa on Sunday morning. If the ship cannot berth, it will shelter at Flores and try again as soon as conditions allow.
The regional government thanked the Air Force, whose help it said has been "fundamental" in supplying island populations during extraordinary situations. It did not say when the THOR B is expected back in service.
It is not the first disruption to sea links in the archipelago this year: in August, a technical fault took an Atlânticoline ferry out of service and reshuffled inter-island sailings.
Source: Azores Government, Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure, statements of 15 and 17 October 2026, as reported by Lusa (via Observador and SIC Notícias).
