The Tarifa–Tangier Ville route is rapidly gaining ground. In the first eight months of 2026, it carried 18.8% more vehicles and 8.8% more passengers, while traffic declined on the other routes operated by Algeciras and Tarifa.
Morocco established itself in 2025 as Baleària’s leading international market. The Spanish company’s international traffic surged by 68%, to nearly two million passengers, driven in particular by its new routes with the kingdom.
All maritime crossings between Tangier and Tarifa were cancelled on Saturday due to strong winds in the Strait of Gibraltar. The disruption occurred during the final weekend of Operation Marhaba.
Gas volumes transported from Spain to Morocco fell sharply in the second half of August. The nearly one-third decline came after the summer peak in electricity consumption, while the Kingdom remains dependent on Spanish infrastructure to import its LNG.
Danish giant DFDS could attempt to return to the heavily used Tarifa–Tangier Ville route. But to secure the Moroccan license being put back up for tender, it will probably have to partner with a majority Moroccan-owned company.
A Spanish newspaper presents the electrical cables linking the two countries as Morocco’s “umbilical cord” and claims they could “switch off” its economy. The reality of this dependence is nevertheless more complex.
Faced with the massive arrival of MREs heading to Morocco, the port of Algeciras temporarily suspended the boarding of freight trucks in order to reserve more space for cars on the ferries.
Operation Marhaba 2026 confirms a sharp decline in crossings linking Motril to Moroccan ports. While certain routes to Tangier and Nador are holding steady or advancing, connections departing from the Andalusian port are recording spectacular drops since the start of summer.
Encounters between orcas and boats are multiplying between Morocco and Spain . Faced with this increase, Spanish authorities are launching a new prevention campaign and urging navigators not to immobilize their vessels in case of approach.
The Spanish city of Tarifa is once again saturated at the height of summer. Between massive tourism and Operation Marhaba (MREs), traffic becomes difficult, much to the dismay of local merchants.
Morocco’s return to GMT will create an unprecedented time gap with Spain during summer. Between Tarifa and Tangier, a crossing of approximately one hour could display an arrival earlier than departure, which is bound to surprise many travelers.
Every summer, many MREs drive across Spain to reach Morocco. Most head to Algeciras, Almería or Motril, ports well known to travelers. But another option deserves consideration: Tarifa.