Balearia Shipping Expects Boost as Morocco Travel Links Resume

Adolfo Utor is counting on the resumption of maritime links with Morocco to increase his turnover in 2022. Presenting Balearia’s results for 2021, he stated that passenger traffic increased by 38% compared to 2020, mainly on domestic routes such as Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands. But these results remain below pre-pandemic figures due to the closure of borders with Morocco, which caused a 85% drop in passengers compared to 2019, reports El Español.

Freight traffic, on the other hand, increased by 15%, particularly on international routes, which recorded a 24% growth. In addition, Balearia’s use of natural gas increased by 36% in 2021, allowing it to reduce its CO2 emissions by 56,000 tons to ensure the company’s sustainability. "Sustainability must always be part of viability," explains Utor, mentioning the launch in May 2021 of the modern ferry Eleanor Roosevelt, the world’s first dual-gas engine ferry.

"As a responsible company, we have an economic, social and cultural driving effect on the territories," Utor also argues, specifying that Balearia’s social cash flow in 2021 increased by 9%, reaching 576 million euros. In 2021, the Balearia Foundation funded more than 280 activities and nearly 80% of the shipping company’s suppliers are local.