Tangier Port Reopens for Passenger Traffic to Spain, Ready for Immediate Operations

After the authorization granted on Friday by the Moroccan merchant navy to shipping companies to resume their activities, the port of Tangier city has informed the health and customs services that it is ready to operate immediately. In response, the shipping company FRS has indicated that its ferry, Tarifa Jet, was also available, reports Europa Sur.

To read: Morocco-Spain Maritime Links Restored, Easing Travel for Diaspora

On the other hand, the ship Ceuta Jet of the FRS company and the ship Maria Dolores of the Intershipping company would not be available before Saturday, April 16. The two shipping companies indicated that they were awaiting instructions from the Spanish authorities to resume the links from Tarifa. The Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras will hold a meeting on Monday with various stakeholders to decide on the exact date of the resumption in compliance with the health measures related to Covid-19.

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

The decision of the Moroccan authorities comes after the visit of Pedro Sanchez on Thursday to Rabat, during which he met with King Mohammed VI. The joint statement that sanctioned the meeting states that "maritime passenger traffic between the two countries will be restored immediately and progressively until the opening of all frequencies".

Morocco closed its air, land and sea borders on March 13, 2020 to limit the spread of Covid-19. In 2020, it canceled the Marhaba Operation and in June 2021, asked Moroccans in Europe wishing to go to the kingdom, to go through the ports of Sète in France and Genoa in Italy, thus excluding the Spanish ports.