Morocco Slashes Ferry Prices, Boosts Capacity for Overseas Nationals’ Return

In accordance with the instructions of King Mohammed VI to ensure the best possible return of the Moroccan community residing abroad, the Merchant Navy Directorate has undertaken numerous steps with the transport companies operating on the maritime lines with Europe, in order to increase the capacity of the supply, diversify the embarkation ports and charge reasonable prices for travelers, indicates the Ministry of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water in a press release.

The reference prices for round-trip tickets, with a car, have thus been reduced to 995 euros for a family of 4 for long-haul lines and 450 euros for medium-haul lines, the ministry specifies, adding that these terms will be detailed and made public shortly.

In the same framework, discussions are underway with the Portuguese authorities with the aim of making the port of Portimao in Portugal an embarkation port, by opening new maritime lines from this port to the port of Tanger Med, the ministry said, recalling that these lines will be added to those of France and Italy already scheduled for this year, with an initial capacity of 20,000 passengers and 5,000 vehicles per week, as well as the mobilization of an additional ship on the Marseille - Tanger Med and Genoa - Tanger Med lines, with a capacity of 4,000 passengers and 1,000 vehicles per week.

Thus, the total capacity will reach about 48,000 passengers and more than 15,000 vehicles per week, which will make it possible to cover the transit phase scheduled for June 15 to September 15, 2021, with about 650,000 passengers and 180,000 vehicles, notes the same source.

In addition, the Merchant Navy Directorate will continue its contacts with maritime transport companies to encourage them to increase the number of rotations and thus increase the transit capacity, to meet the demand during this period, taking into account the technical and procedural provisions of the ports and ships, the press release concludes.