ABSTRACT
The maritime areas under national jurisdiction of the continental coast of Portugal are crossed by the busy commercial routes connecting northern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. A significant part of the maritime traffic proceeding from the production centers in the far East, namely China, passes through the Suez channel, crosses the Mediterranean Sea to the strait of Gibraltar and heads for the consumption centers in northern Europe. Passing off the coast of Portugal, these ships share the waters with vessels bound for and leaving from national ports, such as fishing vessels, pleasure crafts, traffic from the Mediterranean to North America, from Africa to northern Europe, from northern Europe to SouthAmerica, creating a complex network of routes.
