Wreckage of ‘Conquistador Pirata’, abandoned at Gran Tarajal pier in 2022, removed

Tuineje Town Council has secured the removal of the remains of the vessel Conquistador Pirata, which had been stranded at Gran Tarajal pier. The operation will allow the commercial pier to return to service next week.

The removal took place today in the presence of Tuineje Mayor David Herrera, Fuerteventura Island Council president Lola García and Puertos Canarios’ island director in Fuerteventura, Juan Luis López.

The operation was made possible through joint work by Puertos Canarios, the Vice-Ministry for Culture and Cultural Heritage of the Canary Islands Government, the Fuerteventura Island Council and Tuineje Town Council.

The action addresses concerns raised by the people of Gran Tarajal about the condition of the vessel and the possible effects its presence could have on the port area.

The local council said that, before work began, a detailed report was drawn up on the value and condition of the vessel’s remains. The study identified several pieces considered to be of interest and suitable for preservation.

Under a collaboration agreement between the Fuerteventura Island Council and the Vice-Ministry for Culture and Cultural Heritage of the Canary Islands Government, items of heritage interest from the vessel will be preserved. These include the anchor, rudder, figurehead and windlass.

All of them will remain in the custody of the Directorate General for Cultural Heritage and the Fuerteventura Island Council, with a view to their possible inclusion in future historical, cultural or educational projects.

Tuineje Mayor David Herrera thanked “the joint work carried out by the different administrations involved in the operation, which will allow this area of Gran Tarajal pier to be reclaimed and revitalised”.

For island president Lola García, “the removal of the remains marks significant progress in restoring Gran Tarajal’s commercial pier and showcasing this strategic area for the municipality and the island”. “In doing so, we are restoring infrastructure of general interest and opening up new opportunities for Fuerteventura’s economic and port development,” she added.

Puertos Canarios official Juan Luis López said the operation “will clear the slipway and the commercial pier’s berthing line, restoring the port’s operational capacity and making it easier to accommodate shipping companies in the future”.