Shipping Crisis Hits Spain-Morocco Routes Amid COVID-19 Emergency

In a note published last week, the Association of Spanish Shipping Companies (Anave), through its Regular Lines Commission, described the critical situation of companies since the start of covid-19. These are those positioned on the lines connecting the peninsula to the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. There are also the lines extending to Morocco, Italy and France, in addition to the regular passenger and ro-ro freight lines.

The note indicates that in the port of Malaga, the shipping companies Armas Trasmediterránea and Baleària, which maintain links with the port of Melilla, are affected by the low mobility of passengers from Malaga to Melilla and the reduction in freight. Since the start of the crisis, the losses that the two companies are recording only in the passenger section exceed 70%. Faced with this situation, Anave has called on the government for help to maintain these lines. Which allow to ensure the supply of all non-peninsular territories, reports Malaga Hoy.

The two shipping companies that have strengthened sanitary measures are experiencing enormous difficulties since the implementation of the state of emergency. Despite the closure of the Moroccan border, the two maritime lines connecting the port of Malaga to the autonomous city of Melilla are still operational.