Marruecos anuncia la nueva ruta marítima entre Tánger y Portimao
The Moroccan Minister of Equipment, Transport and Logistics, Abdelkader Amara, has announced that the maritime route between Tangiers and Portimao (Portugal) will be operational as of July. "As I speak to you, the director of the merchant navy is in Lisbon to put the final touches to the agreement to be signed between Morocco and Portugal", Amara declared in an interview in which he reported on this new route, which is part of Operation Crossing the Strait or Operation Marhaba.
As the Moroccan minister explained, two ships will make two trips a day with 4,000 people on board. The duration of the trip will be approximately 7 hours and the prices will be "reasonable", according to Amara. According to the Moroccan media Bladi, the round-trip ticket will cost around 4,500 dirhams, approximately 423 euros. This ticket includes a family of four and a vehicle on board. It is worth noting that King Mohammed VI ordered to lower ticket prices for Moroccans who live outside the country and wish to return in the summer. This measure also includes the kingdom's airline, Royal Air Maroc (RAM), and affects the countries with the largest Moroccan populations, such as Spain, France, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands.
The Portimao-Tangier line joins others maintained by the kingdom, such as the route to Sète and Marseille in France and Genoa in Italy. This summer, due to the coronavirus pandemic, transnational travel could create a challenge for the Alawi kingdom, which during the worst waves of the pandemic was able to successfully manage the health crisis. "We are facing a true national epic and we must all contribute to its success," stressed Saad Eddine El Othmani, head of Morocco's government. El Othmani also urged to make the summer of 2021 "the consecration of Morocco, patriotism, solidarity and hope".
The leader of the Moroccan executive alluded to the thousands of citizens abroad who wish to return to their country during the summer to join their families. "It is a very valuable national human and social achievement and a challenge that requires the mobilisation of all to meet it," he added. El Othmani announced that the decision to allow these trips is due to the favourable epidemiological situation in Morocco following the vaccination process and the decrease in the number of people infected and killed by COVID-19.
At the beginning of June, the Moroccan government announced the cancellation of routes with Spain. Rabat justifies the decision on the grounds of the current health crisis. In order to embark for Morocco, it is necessary to present a negative PCR, in addition to carrying out another test on board. For this reason, ships must be equipped with special equipment. The Alawi government has taken the view that it is not feasible to equip ships with laboratories for short journeys, such as those with Spain.
However, this decision could also be conditioned by the current diplomatic crisis between Rabat and Madrid. This clash between the neighbouring countries began in April when the Spanish government allowed Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali to be admitted to a hospital in Logroño. Subsequently, in May, Morocco decided to open its borders with Spain, causing a migration crisis.
Some of the ports affected by this measure are those of Algeciras, Tarifa, Motril, Malaga, Almeria and Ceuta. Likewise, the citizens of these places will have to look for alternative routes to return to their country in the summer. Portimao, a city located in the southern Algarve region, could be the best option for the Moroccan population in southern Spain.
