Ferry Company Renames Ship Ahead of Morocco-Spain Route Change

More commonly known as El Melillero, the ferry "Ciudad de Melilla" has been called this since 2019. But Trasmediterránea has decided to change this name to avoid irritating Morocco, as the ship has been chosen to connect Almeria to Nador as part of Operation Marhaba 2024. The ship made its first trip on this line on Tuesday, reports Ok Diario.

The decision to change the ship’s name because of Morocco is an "aberration," said Juan José Imbroda, the president of Melilla, who says he does not understand this measure taken by the shipping company for the sole purpose of "not offending" Morocco, which, he recalls, has never ceased to claim the Spanish enclave that it considers an "occupied territory." "Trasmediterránea has removed the name of Melilla in order to be able to go to Morocco. It was embarrassed, it vilified and humiliated us because it does not want to offend Morocco," Imbroda concluded.

On the other hand, the shipping company, based in the Canary Islands, has kept the name of the ferry "Ciudad de Ceuta" which serves the Ceuta-Algeciras route. "Ciudad de Melilla", now Fortuny, is 157 meters long and can carry up to 1,000 passengers and 330 vehicles. It has a gym, a cinema, shops, restaurants, a nursery and a helipad on board.