Morocco and Spain announced, on the sidelines of last week’s visit to Morocco by the head of the Spanish government, Pedro Sanchez, “the immediate and gradual restoration of passenger maritime links between the two countries until the opening of all frequencies. In the same vein, the Paso del Estrecho/Marhaba operation is being prepared.
The reopening of the maritime lines between Spain and Morocco started this Tuesday, April 12, for passengers without vehicles, in particular from the port of Algeciras to the port of Tangier and the port of Tarifa to Tangier-ville, while the Boarding of vehicles will start Monday, April 18 at 9:00 am, said the Port Authority of Algeciras on its website.
To this end, the ports of Tangier and Spain have taken strict measures to prepare for the launch of the maritime link and the resumption of passenger traffic which was suspended for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but also of the diplomatic crisis between Rabat and Madrid.
According to data obtained by MoroccoLatestNewsand at the port of Tangier, shipping companies were called upon to quickly renew the badges of employees responsible for selling tickets and boarding passengers.
The administration of the port of Tangier has therefore informed the shipping companies that if several incidents and complaints are reported, entry into the port will be refused. The same management also indicated that the vehicles of civil servants and port workers are prohibited from entering the port.
At the port of Tangier, the FRS shipping company will operate the TARIFA Jet ship from this Tuesday, April 12 while the second ship “ Ceuta Jet will start on Saturday, April 16. For the Moroccan Ferry Company “ Intershipping“, she is currently working to conclude a rental agreement for the vessel Maria Dolores, and will participate in the Tanger-Ville-Tariffa shipping line on April 16th.
For its part, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics announced on Monday that, as part of the reopening of maritime lines between Morocco and Spain, passenger services will resume between the ports of Tanger-Med and Tanger-Ville, and the ports of Algeciras and Tarifa in Spain, from this Tuesday.
Regarding the Marhaba operation, which takes place every year between June 15 and September 15, and which was interrupted for two years because of the Covid, it will take place this year to the delight of Moroccan residents in abroad, but also Spanish and Moroccan ports.
The President of the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA), Gerardo Landaluce, therefore met with the various port players to finalize the preparation of this large-scale operation which allows Moroccans in Europe to make the cross to Morocco from the ports of Algeciras and Tarifa (Cadiz). Moreover, these two ports concentrate some 80% of the traffic that takes place during the Marhaba operation.
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