Morocco and Portugal have agreed to a new ferry route. Just need a ferry company on board by all accounts. Return prices quoted as 450 euros

Its unclear if this price listed is a discounted price for Moroccans following the Kings announcement or the regular fare.

A direct from Portugal solution would be perfect

Getting a ferry company onboard will probably be the big problem... I doubt that there will be a lineup of companies seeking to operate this route.

The problem - as potential ferry operators will see it - is this: The route does not make any sense. It's way longer than Gibraltar or Algeceras to Morocco, offers zero logistical benefits to passengers or truckers, and there is probably no port infrastructure in Portugal that is already present to handle passenger and ro-ro ferries.

Setting this route up would require considerable capital investment on the part of the ferry operator to set up a port in Portugal (neither the Moroccans or the Portuguese have any reason to subsidize such a venture), and the route could be made redundant and useless overnight in the event of an improvement in relations between Morocco & Spain. After all, there is no practical reason to not continue operating the long-standing Algeceras to Morocco route - it's only constrained at the moment because of a diplomatic hissy fit. That could disappear overnight (let's hope it does).

My guess is that a Portugal to Morocco ferry route will never see the light of day.

Michael

Pretty much like the proposed Portsmouth to Portugal ferry

The Moroccan government is subsidising all ferry and air tickets for Moroccans this summer as part of operation Marhaba.

There's a whole load of ferries and ferry companies not operating the Spain - Morocco route as they normally do due to the restricted traffic between the 2. Most of these ferries are too small to do the longer routes. I would think any number of those ferries could be utilised even the Spanish owned ones (Balearia are running ferries from France to Morocco so it would appear Spanish companies aren't prohibited)

Yes the 2 countries could grow up and reopen the Spanish routes, but its not far off 18months since a ferry ran carrying passengers between them.

There's never been a ferry from Gibraltar to Morocco but that would seem the easiest way to capitalise on the gaps in service. Cruiser ships regularly visit Gib so the infrastructure must be there, although maybe not for vehicle loading.

Maybe they could use that leftover Ecranoplan thing ... :rolleyes2: :rofl:

Gibraltar
 

In normal times, FRS run a service from Gibraltar for Moroccans working in Gib to return home for the weekend.
Friday evening Algeciras-Gib-Tanger Med
Sunday evening TangerMed-Gib-Algeciras.

The infrastructure is there to handle vehicles, albeit on a much smaller scale than Algeciras. It would not be unlikely for Spanish border staff to enforce a go-slow at the frontier.

Didn't know about that ferry, thanks Pete. Makes you wonder why it doesn't run now with the short distance and demand.

Other news, the Morocccan government has chartered 2 ferries from Tallink to run from France to Morocco. These will run until mid September and be operated by Intershipping.

Grimaldi have not been granted permission to operate at the moment.

Portimao route rumoured to start early July, possibly AML and Intershipping Ferries but no confirmation yet

Can you remind me who has kept Mk tourist ferries from operating to Spain in the first place?
Mk in response to Spain closing the enclave borders (or just having enclaves)?
Or Sp for some other reasons? ta

Its all rather murky when they first stopped the ferries, officially COVID at the time but descended into something else between March and July 2020. Recently its down to Spain's stance on the WS, smuggling Brahim Ghali in for "humanitarian" reasons and Morocco's letting people through the border illegally.

Simple terms both side are acting like 5 year olds in the playground and need to grow up.

For a long time both sides allowed 1 ferry a week for tourists to get back to Europe, all stopped back in May.

Certainly its hurting both parties economically

I don't think Morocco is acting like a child. I would rather call it clever diplomacy

Anyone booked Sete for October yet?
 

Has anyone bit the bullet and booked Sete for October yet?

I know Chris S and others have suffered a number of cancelations but surely this is our #1 chance to get there as soon as possible?

Having experienced the GNV ferry to Sete last year after lockdown, I'm in no hurry to book it again.

Hoping Portimao gets of the ground myself. I have a ferry booked for Spain early September and will see how things develop.

https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/202...onia-s-tallink

https://ferryshippingnews.com/tallin...until-october/

anyone hear anything about how to buy tickets?

go to GNV, La Meridionale, or Balearia's website and book online.

The Tallink ships are being operated by Intershipping so booking should be available on their website as well