Algeciras Port Anticipates Reopening of Spain-Morocco Maritime Routes After Two-Year Closure

After two years of losses, this news is welcome, said Gerardo Landaluce, the president of the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras, who hopes that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, will provide more details on the date of resumption of passenger traffic between Morocco and Spain as well as on the holding of Operation Marhaba, during his next trip to Rabat scheduled for April 1.

To read: Morocco-Spain Ferry Suspension Threatens Algeciras Port’s Summer Economy

The losses recorded due to the closure of maritime borders with Morocco are enormous for the port of Algeciras, which estimates them at 40 million euros, or 6.8 million passengers and 1.6 million vehicles. As for the port of Tarifa, it has lost the 3.2 million passengers and 414,000 vehicles that transited through its facilities in 2019, its last year of activity. For their part, the shipping companies estimate their losses at nearly 500 million euros due to the cancellation of Operation Marhaba in 2021.

"In any case, the port community of the port of Algeciras has prepared itself both for the resumption of traffic and for Operation Marhaba," assured Landaluce, regretting the fact that the port of Tarifa has remained two years without generating any revenue.