The port of Algeciras recorded the arrival of 20,785 passengers and 5,121 vehicles on Saturday as part of the Marhaba 2023 Operation. Since June 15, the start date of the Operation, 37,154 vehicles have already transited to Morocco, an increase of 58.5% compared to last year.
The Port Authority of Tarifa has announced the return to normal port operations. On Saturday, after a disruption caused by gusts of wind, the port has resumed its crossings.
The sub-delegate of the Spanish government in Cadiz, José Pacheco, announced on Friday that travelers with a pre-purchased ticket will be given priority for boarding at the ports of Algeciras and Tarifa as part of the Marhaba Operation.
The preparations for the Operation Crossing the Strait (OPE) have been launched by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, which expects a significant flow of passengers and vehicles between June 15 and September 15. The ports of Algeciras and Tarifa will play a central role in this operation.
The Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras is preparing the public auction of the ship Boraq, moored at the Isla Verde quay since 2016, with practically no activity since then.
Spain and Morocco held a bilateral meeting in Algeciras to discuss the Operation Passage of the Strait (OPE) or Marhaba. The Director Generals of the Merchant Navy of Spain and Morocco, Benito Núñez and Najib Elkarkouri, chaired the meeting, which was attended by officials from the ports of Algeciras, Tarifa, Tanger Med and Tanger Ville. This year, the Moroccan authorities are expecting a significant influx of Moroccans Residing Abroad (MREs), but this enthusiasm could be dampened by the high cost of boat and plane tickets.
The maritime companies linking the port of Algeciras to Ceuta and Tanger Med have resumed their departures this Thursday morning, after most of the links were suspended the day before due to a windstorm raging in the Strait region.
Due to unfavorable weather conditions (gusts of wind and storm), several shipping companies connecting Morocco from Algeciras and Tarifa had to cancel or suspend their routes.
The Audiencia Nacional will decide on Tuesday whether or not to extradite a Moroccan accused of migrant trafficking. The defendant illegally brought 28 Moroccan migrants into Spain by boat in 2017. These were later deported to Morocco.
The port of Tarifa has been forced to cancel all its maritime connections with the port of Tanger Ville. This measure was taken due to the unfavorable weather conditions that the entire region continues to experience. The port of Algeciras has also canceled some of its scheduled departures for Ceuta this Friday morning.
Maritime traffic is gradually returning to normal in the Strait of Gibraltar, shaken since Friday by storms and wind gusts . The port of Algeciras has resumed its links with Tanger Med and Ceuta this Sunday, while the port of Tarifa remains closed until further notice.
A very strong storm has been shaking the Strait of Gibraltar since Thursday, forcing the ports of Algeciras and Tarifa to cancel their rotations with Ceuta and Tangier.