Morocco-Spain Ferry Service to Resume in April After Two-Year Hiatus

27 March 2022 – byPrince@Bladi · 1 min read

Maritime traffic between Morocco and Spain should resume in early April, after two years of suspension. The first ferry will depart from the port of Tarifa to the port of Tangier on April 7.

This reopening of maritime borders comes after President Pedro Sanchez sent a letter to King Mohammed VI in which he expressed Spain’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara, which it considers the "most realistic, credible" solution to the conflict. Last Wednesday, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced the resumption of maritime links and the Marhaba Operation, recalls Atalayar.

To read: Spanish Port of Algeciras Prepares for Return of Moroccan Diaspora Transit Operation

The Transit Operation, coordinated each year between Spain and Morocco, allows Moroccans residing in Europe to travel to the kingdom via Spanish ports to spend their summer holidays there. In 2020 and 2021, the Operation was cancelled by Morocco for health reasons, according to official sources. During these two years, Moroccans from Europe reached Morocco through the ports of Sète in France and Genoa in Italy.

To read: Spain Seeks to Restore Maritime Links with Morocco After Two-Year Hiatus

This situation has caused heavy losses for the Spanish port and tourism sectors. The news of the resumption of passenger maritime traffic will provide a breath of fresh air for Spanish companies operating in the ports and will allow the continued return of migrants from the Canary Islands to Morocco.

Category: Spain

Keywords:

Spain Tanger Med Tarifa Sahara Autonomy Maritime link