Record-breaking vehicle traffic marks completion of 'Operation Marhaba 2023' in Spain

The Spanish Ministry of the Interior announced on Monday that  2023 Marhaba operation has set a new record for vehicle traffic.

A total of 775,336 vehicles were recorded, marking an impressive increase of more than 11.5 percent compared to the previous year. This achievement represents the highest number ever recorded since the operation’s inception in 1987.

According to an official statement released on the ministry’s website, Algeciras Port took the top spot in terms of vehicle movement, with approximately 240,000 vehicles passing through, accounting for roughly 31 percent of the total transit vehicles. This figure reflects a 4.5 percent increase compared to the previous year’s data. The second-highest volume of vehicle traffic was observed at the port of “Almeria,” which saw the passage of more than 68,000 vehicles.

The ministry also reported that a staggering 3,219,000 people smoothly and safely crossed the strait during this operation, representing an approximate 11 percent increase compared to the previous year. This marked the largest movement of people between the two continents.

In terms of ship movement, the Spanish Interior noted that the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergency coordinated over 11,000 ship rotations, indicating a 12 percent increase compared to 2022. These rotations involved 34 ships operating across various ports, including Algeciras, Almeria, Alicante, Ceuta, Malacca, Melilla, Granada, Cádiz, and Valencia. Remarkably, no major accidents were recorded during this transit operation.