Spanish maritime transit companies unveil ticket prices, as preparations for Operation Marhaba advance

The prices of companies that provide maritime transport for passengers between Spain and Morocco were revealed on April 15, after both Kingdoms announced the reopening of maritime traffic ahead of the summer season.

For travelers wishing to travel to Morocco from Spain, the prices start at 32 euros. For the crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar, Balearia offers a price of 32.25 euros and Trasmediterranea 33.80 euros.

For FRS, the price of the ticket for daily connections Tarifa-Tanger City is set at 43.50 euros and Algeciras-Tanger Med at 37.50 euros.

The ticket for a passenger with a vehicle is from 49.50 euros in Balearia. For Africa Morocco Link (AML), the price starts at 36 euros.

Travelers must present a vaccination pass or PCR test dated 72 hours before boarding.

Currently, maritime links between the two countries are provided by 17 ships, which enable transporting 224,000 passengers and 66,000 cars per week.

This offer is expected to be strengthened to reach a total of 30 ships, including 13 on the main Tangier Med-Algeciras route.

The Spanish Ministry of Interior authorized on Tuesday the start of preparations for the organization of the Marhaba 2022 Operation.

Spanish authorities at various administrative levels, involved in the organization of the Marhaba Operation, can now take the necessary actions for the success of this year’s edition.

Operation Transit was canceled in 2020 due to a health crisis and in 2021 due to a diplomatic crisis between Madrid and Rabat, caused by the arrival in Spain of Brahim Ghali, the leader of the separatist Polisario Front.

During these two years, Morocco has excluded Spanish ports, asking its citizens in Europe to pass through the ports of Sete in France and Genoa in Italy to travel to the Kingdom.

The Spanish government has decided to launch the preparations for Operation Marhaba after the resumption of maritime links this Tuesday.

The trigger was the change in Spain’s position on the Sahara in mid-March, and the visit last Thursday of Spanish President Pedro Sanchez to Rabat, marking the end of the crisis and the beginning of a “new stage” in the relationship between the two countries.

On Monday, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Interior, Isabel Goicoechea, and the Director-General of Civil Protection and Emergencies, Leonardo Marcos, co-chaired the meeting of the State Coordination and Management Committee (CECOD) of the Marhaba 2022 Operation, which will take place between June 15 and September 15, in compliance with health regulations.