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Originally Posted by PanEuropean
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
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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.
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