Navio Gil Eannes

The Gil Eannes was built at Viana do Castelo in 1955 as a support ship for the Portuguese cod fleet on the Grand Banks - the White Fleet that sent men out in single-man dories to hand-line for cod off Newfoundland and Greenland. She carried a full hospital with an operating theatre, dentist and X-ray, supplied the fleet with fuel, water, bait and mail, towed disabled vessels, acted as a floating court and, when men died on the Banks, brought the bodies home. She worked the fishery until 1973. After decommissioning she was sold and was about to be scrapped when a local foundation bought her in 1998 and brought her back to the yard that built her. She is now moored on the Viana waterfront as a museum ship and a youth hostel, with the hospital, engine room, bridge, cabins and mess open to walk through.

The main sights

• The hospital - operating theatre, dental surgery and X-ray room aboard.
• The support role - fuel, water, bait, mail and towing for the Grand Banks fleet.
• The engine room and bridge - the working spaces open to walk through.
• The rescue - a ship bought from the scrapyard in 1998 and returned to her builders.

When to go

April to October. One to two hours. Hours shorten out of season. She also functions as a hostel, so parts can be in use.

Practical notes

Steep ladders and narrow companionways throughout - not accessible for anyone with mobility problems. Part of the ship operates as a hostel and is closed to visitors. Labelling is mainly in Portuguese. The hospital displays include the reality of what the fishery did to men.

Nearby

Santa Luzia is on the hill above; the Lima estuary and beaches are west.