Parties and public unite in Cádiz to refloat beloved ferry

Two days after the accidental sinking of the Vaporcito, a popular ferry joining the southern Andalusian cities of Cádiz and El Puerto de Santa María, nearly 4,000 people have joined an online group demanding that the boat be restored and put back in operation.

The popular movement to bring back the well-loved service reached the air waves on Thursday, when one resident of Cádiz enjoined his fellow citizens to contribute one euro to help fix the damages.

Even the authorities are volunteering to chip in. The ministries of public works and the environment, as well as the city of El Puerto de Santa María, offered to pay the 15,000 euros it would cost to refloat the vessel. The wave of government solidarity comes two months before general elections, as politicians jump at the chance of trading in all the austerity talk for a show of generosity. Anything to save the Vaporcito.

As a matter of fact, it was the Socialist candidate to the prime minister's seat, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, who got the central government involved in the "Save the Vaporcito" campaign. Pérez Rubalcaba, who was elected representative for Cádiz, is taking this opportunity to do something for his former voters and to prove that politicians are willing and able to listen to popular demands.

Environment Minister Rosa Aguilar said earlier this week that she planned to provide economic support to the company that runs the service, Motonaves Adriano, to avoid the loss "of a sign of identity for the Bay of Cádiz."

Help from left and right

Meanwhile, the city of El Puerto de Santa María, which is run by the conservative Popular Party, offered to put up the full costs of getting the boat up and running again. "The first step was to get the boat out of the water and we're still working on that," said Mayor Enrique Moresco.

The left-wing coalition Izquierda Unida did not want to be left out of the project, either, and lacking an institution that can provide money, it put forward a motion asking the regional government of Andalusia to help restore the Vaporcito.

Still pending is the verdict by the vessel's insurance company, which is waiting for the investigation to end before deciding whether it will cover the recovery costs.

The Vaporcito sank after hitting a rock just as it was about to reach the port of Cádiz on August 30. The 80 people on board were all taken to safety before the ferry sank. The line has been in operation since the early 20th century.

A rock sank the Vaporcito. Now, elections might save it.