The Santa Maria Manuela has had an extraordinary journey. Launched in 1937 as a cod-fishing ship, she spent six decades sailing the icy waters of Newfoundland. Today, under the ownership of Jerónimo Martins, she offers sail training voyages with a focus on ocean connection and environmental awareness.
As society becomes increasingly disconnected from nature, we believe the Santa Maria Manuela has a vital role in helping people reconnect with the ocean. Through this connection, we aim to spark engagement, interest, and ultimately a passion for protecting marine ecosystems and the communities that rely on them.
Santa Maria Manuela is a certified Blue Flag ship, adhering to the Sail Training International Code of Conduct for marine conservation and education.
Life on board encourages disconnection from the digital world and immersion in the natural environment.
We are proud partners of the Ocean Azul Foundation, a global leader in ocean conservation. Their mission is to promote a healthy, productive ocean for the benefit of the planet. In 2018, Santa Maria Manuela hosted a scientific expedition around the Azores, involving over 600 dives and leading to a proposal for a 150,000 km² marine protected area.
In 2020, we hosted Portugal’s International Coastal Cleanup, removing 247 kg of seabed litter in a single day — part of a national effort that cleared 19 tons of waste from beaches and coastal waters.
In 2024, the Santa Maria Manuela was proud to serve as the support ship for the Oceano Azul Expedition Gorringe, a pioneering 23-day scientific mission to explore the Gorringe Seamount, one of Europe’s hidden marine giants. Hosting researchers and crew, the ship provided a stable platform for fieldwork on the Gettysburg and Ormonde summits and surrounding pelagic zones. The expedition identified at least 200 species, 40 of which had never been recorded in the area, laying the groundwork for future marine protection efforts.
We work with Lisbon Oceanarium, part of the Ocean Azul Foundation, to create eco-voyages that explore Marine Protected Areas and offer guests insights into Portugal’s rich marine biodiversity.
With support from Waste Free Oceans, guests on board help us monitor ocean purity using fine-mesh trawls to capture plankton, microplastics, and marine litter. Witnessing pollution in such remote areas is a powerful reminder of our environmental impact and the importance of taking action.
We sail whenever the wind allows, recycle onboard waste, and offer environmental talks and workshops. In 2021, we became the first European ship to use OceanIX “green ropes”: sustainable ropes made from recycled fishing gear, with a lower CO2 footprint than virgin plastic. This supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals for responsible consumption and climate action.
Tourism has the potential to be the world’s greatest engine for wealth distribution. As we rebuild in a post-pandemic world, we aim to place local communities at the heart of travel. On board the SMM, we offer meaningful, hands-on sailing experiences that give back, supporting both environmental and community-based initiatives.
When guests leave the Santa Maria Manuela, we hope they take with them not just memories, but inspiration and the motivation to protect the fragile ocean we all depend on.
