The complaint comes from the Santa Maria Maior Residents and Friends Association, which forwarded the complaint to several entities, including the Lisbon City Council (CML), the Maritime Police, and the Port of Lisbon Administration, calling for the implementation of noise mitigation measures to ensure the right to rest.

In response to the Lusa news agency, the Lisbon City Council acknowledges that it has received "complaints from residents regarding noisy activity on the riverfront," but emphasises that "the circulation of these vessels on the Tagus with sound equipment in operation does not require municipal licensing and is subject to inspection by the Maritime Authority."

Contrary to this idea, the Lisbon Maritime Police, under the authority of the Maritime Authority, clarifies that noise monitoring is not its responsibility, but rather that of the municipal councils, "under the General Noise Regulation."

"The Local Command of the Lisbon Maritime Police carries out several inspections, targeting various matters. Regarding noise, the Maritime Police does not use measurement techniques to identify infractions, as this is not within its jurisdiction," it told Lusa, revealing that, since 2023, 62 inspections have been carried out on maritime tourist vessels, detecting 20 infractions, but none related to noise.

Since 2023, seven complaints related to noise from recreational vessels have been received in the 11 municipalities covered by the Lisbon Maritime Police Local Command—Oeiras, Lisbon, Loures, Vila Franca de Xira, Benavente, Alcochete, Montijo, Moita, Barreiro, Seixal, and Almada—

Furthermore, the Lisbon City Council (CML) states that, in March, it held a meeting with the Lisbon Port Authority (APL), where the residents' association's complaint was addressed, with the goal of "strengthening mechanisms to control and mitigate noise from port and maritime activities."

Under review

Responsible for licensing maritime tourism operators, the APL reveals that the regulations in this area are "under review, becoming part of the Code of Conduct for Maritime Tourism Operators on the Tagus River," prepared by "a multidisciplinary working group" created in 2024 to "study ways to mitigate the impacts of the growing maritime tourism activity on the Tagus and ensure a healthy coexistence between the various uses of the river."

"The regulations expressly address the need to prevent and reduce the impact of noise associated with vessel operations," the APL states, determining that "noise produced by music or other sounds must be reduced when entering, staying at, and leaving the docks."

To Lusa, the APL also highlighted its "close collaboration" with other competent authorities, "namely the Maritime Police and Municipal Police, within the scope of their respective responsibilities and powers to monitor temporary noisy activities."

Bringing together around 300 people, the Santa Maria Maior Residents and Friends Association has been denouncing the noisy activity caused by recreational boats "that sail up and down the Tagus River, acting as floating nightclubs," operating day and night, including between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., with hundreds of people on board, disturbing those living near riverside areas.

To ensure the right to rest, residents are asking that boats turn off music when approaching the docks and while docked awaiting the arrival or departure of passengers, and that they observe the noise limits established by the General Noise Law, especially during the night.

Another concern concerns "noisy events" that have been licensed outdoors in public spaces. The residents' association criticizes "a culture of noise due to a lack of action and oversight by the City Council," with restaurants and bars playing music with their doors open and speakers outside their establishments to attract customers: "There's a climate of impunity. Since no one is sanctioned, no one is monitored, the problem is growing."

New complaint

In this regard, residents are preparing a new complaint to the Attorney General's Office regarding non-compliance with the General Noise Law, regarding schedules and noise limits. The first complaint was filed in 2024, but it was not possible to proceed with a lawsuit against the City Council due to a lack of evidence. Now, the association has raised funds among residents to hire a certified company to conduct acoustic measurements.

In response to Lusa, the City Council and extends the analysis of licensing requests, "imposing technical requirements that ensure compliance with current legislation on ambient noise."

The city government says that the number of licensed events with sound amplification in the area of ​​​​the Navy Dock has been decreasing, and this year, only one event was licensed by the CML: the Santos Populares (Popular Saints), between June 5th and 21st. It is unknown whether the Santa Maria Maior Parish Council has licensed others.