COVID-19 Halts Passenger Traffic, Cripples Shipping in Strait of Gibraltar

Passenger transport, which is the main source of revenue for shipping companies operating in the Strait of Gibraltar, has been suspended for a month due to covid-19. These are the companies FRS, Balearia, Intershipping, AML and Armas - Trasmediterránea. The revenues of these companies continue to decline.

Since the closure of the borders by Morocco, reports elestrechodigital.com, passenger departures to Tangier and Ceuta from the port of Algeciras are impossible. Shipping companies are content with the transport of essential goods. The closure occurred during the Easter period. A period par excellence of great movements. Things are likely to get complicated for these companies if the border closure is maintained during Ramadan, another period of large crowds.

With this situation, many ships in the Strait of Gibraltar have remained moored in the port. However, some are ensuring the transport of essential goods. Passenger transport with authorization for Ceuta is possible with the companies Balearia and Trasmediterránea, which have maintained some of their departures for this purpose. The tragedy is that requests are very rare.

Falling sales, a very negative balance and significant losses. This is the assessment of maritime companies for last month. Car rental companies, travel agencies, coaches, catering companies in the various maritime stations have also suffered the same ravages last month. Faced with this situation, drastic decisions have been taken by the companies, specifies elestrechodigital.com.