MRE Ferry Prices Morocco Soar to Record Highs

The bill is dizzying for large families. To cross from one shore to the other, the majority of travelers with a large vehicle and five to six passengers must now pay an average of up to 10,000 dirhams. The figures relayed by a ticket agency owner illustrate this bewildering inflation: a round trip for one person with a vehicle approaches 3,500 dirhams, compared to around a thousand in previous years. The cost increases rapidly since each ticket for an additional pedestrian passenger does not fall below 600 dirhams.

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This surge, which has sometimes tripled the usual ticket value since last summer without observing any winter decline, is explained by virtually non-existent competition. On the routes connecting Ceuta, Algeciras and Tangier Med, a single company exercises total hegemony allowing it to push prices to levels deemed unacceptable. This monopoly leads to immediate price alignment by other maritime transport operators. According to Al Ahdath Al Maghribia, this situation would stem from tacit agreements blatantly violating the strict competition laws enforced by Spanish authorities.

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Facing this escalation imposed without any consideration for users, discontent is organizing. Several Spanish NGOs demand the implementation of strict controls to stop these exorbitant fares. For their part, MREs are calling for urgent intervention from the transit operation coordination commission. Surprised by the current silence of authorities, they are calling for direct discussions with shipping companies to secure reductions, even temporary ones, to allow more people to travel during vacations.