Since 1 June 2015, the jurisdiction of the Douro River Waterway has been assumed by APDL - Administração dos Portos do Douro, Leixões e Viana do Castelo, S.A., in accordance with Decree-Law no. 83/2015.

APDL, S. A., thus takes over the powers and competences relating to the Douro River waterway, previously attributed to IMT, I. P., in its many economic, financial and property aspects, staff management, administration of the State assets assigned to it and port operation, and develops the activities that are complementary, subsidiary or accessory to it, ensuring the navigability of the said waterway and guaranteeing port safety, as well as the functions and powers of port authority in the areas that make up this waterway.

In this context, APDL, S.A. is responsible for:

Promoting and encouraging navigation on the Douro river waterway;

Promoting and encouraging activities related to navigation, publicising its image among economic agents, managing resources and contributing to the development of the Douro region;

Developing and maintaining infrastructure and equipment to ensure traffic on the Douro River waterway and the use of port facilities;

Manage the assets within its area of jurisdiction;

Coordinate the interventions of other public or private entities with an impact on the Douro River waterway.

This Decreto-Lei defines:

 Conselho da Navegabilidade do Douro, a consultative body of APDL, S. A., for issues relating to the navigable waterway of the Douro River, whose main competences are:

To give its opinion on issues of interest to the operation of navigation on the Douro River waterway;

Propose the actions it deems appropriate for the operation of the Douro River waterway and its harbours;

Draw up and approve its internal regulations.

APDL, S.A., will now manage the ports of Leixões, Viana do Castelo and the Douro Waterway, with a view to their economic exploitation, conservation and development.

Leça da Palmeira, 2nd June 2015

APDL - Administração dos Portos do Douro, Leixões e Viana do Castelo, S.A.

Para aconselhar a APDL na gestão da via navegável, é instituído o Conselho de Navegabilidade, constituído por representantes de uma multitude de organismos, públicos e privados.