Morocco Prepares Sea Routes for Diaspora’s Summer Return Amid Travel Restrictions

Last week, the Moroccan merchant navy directorate asked maritime companies operating links between the two shores of the Strait of Gibraltar to present their "fleet plan as part of the preparations for the Marhaba Operation 2021", indicates EFE, however stressing that for the moment, neither Spain nor Morocco have officially confirmed the holding of the Operation which usually lasts three months (June 15 - September 15).

Morocco has closed its land borders and suspended flights with more than forty countries "until further notice" and entry into the territory is subject to the presentation of a PCR test dating back at least 72 hours and, for foreigners, proof of a hotel reservation. However, transit through the strait has not been interrupted, allowing ships to continue to transport goods and vehicles to and from Morocco and Europe. Better, shipping companies like Balearia and Trasmediterránea have repatriated many Spaniards stranded in Morocco to Spain and were returning empty. Only vehicles with a European or diplomatic registration were admitted on these ships.

If the holding of the Marhaba Operation is confirmed by the competent authorities, the ships will have to relax the access conditions. For example, they will have to admit passengers in both directions, as well as vehicles with any registration plate, which also allows a Schengen visa (which is not currently issued) to serve as a travel document.

"We have the logistical capacity. We just need a political signal to start boarding passengers," explains a manager of one of the shipping companies who requested anonymity. "It would be enough to double the frequency of boats between Algeciras and Tangier to be able to carry out a good Marhaba Operation," says another. The evolution of the epidemiological situation in the kingdom, with the ongoing vaccination campaign, will be decisive in allowing Morocco to authorize the holding of the 2021 edition of the Transit Operation.

In 2019, the Marhaba operation allowed 3,340,045 Moroccans residing abroad (MREs), particularly in Europe, and 760,215 vehicles to cross the strait (round trip) to spend the summer holidays in Morocco. In 2020, it was finally canceled, after several months of uncertainty, due to the Covid-19 health crisis.