Rabat Amphibious Buses: Tourist Transport Innovation 2026

Rabat is not abandoning its amphibious buses. Rabat Région Mobilité has launched a new call for tenders to acquire two vehicles capable of traveling on roads and then navigating the Bouregreg.

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The contract is estimated at 25 million dirhams. The opening of bids is scheduled for September 10, 2026 at the headquarters of Rabat Région Mobilité. Each bus must be able to transport at least 36 seated passengers, not counting crew members.

The project aims at tourist transport on the Bouregreg, with vehicles adapted to the access ramps of the Salé Marina or the left bank of the river. The first two months of the contract will be devoted to feasibility studies and technical adaptation of the buses.

Two failed attempts before relaunching

This is not the first attempt. A first call for tenders was launched in November 2025 with a budget of 23 million dirhams. Only one company, the British Seahorse Amphibious, submitted an offer, which was ultimately rejected by the evaluation committee.

A second procedure, opened in February 2026, raised the market estimate to 26 million dirhams, but it attracted no candidates. For this third attempt, the contract duration is set at 20 months, including 18 months for manufacturing, testing, shipping to Morocco, on-site trials and crew training.

On roads, buses must be equipped with a diesel engine meeting at least Euro VI standards, or its American equivalent, and reach at least 50 km/h. When navigating, they must travel at least 6 knots in calm waters, approximately 11 km/h.

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The specifications also require a marine-grade aluminum hull, bilge pumps, water level alarms, a fire suppression system and individual life-saving equipment. Road and maritime certifications must then be validated in Morocco by NARSA and the Directorate of Merchant Marine.