After a two 12 months pause owing to Covid and strained relations with Morocco, the ferry operation carrying Moroccans returning residence for summer season has recommenced.
Operación Paso del Estrecho 2022 (OPE) entails Motril port and the Moroccan ports of Nador and Alhucemas, in addition to the North African, Spanish enclave metropolis of Melilla.
Morrocans, in addition to different North African nationals flood down by way of Europe and throughout Spain, heading for Motril as a result of it’s the shortest sea-route, due to this fact the most affordable. Because of this, it’s a profitable enterprise for the ferry strains (Armas-Trasmediterránea) overlaying the routes.
The ferry, volcán de Timanfaya, left Motril port this afternoon at 14.00h, loaded with three giant lorries, six vehicles and eleven passengers – far wanting its carrying capability, however then once more it’s the first day.
Come July and August, it is going to be very busy. The truth is, the final time that there was an OPE was in 2019 when ferries out of Motril carried a complete of 156,000 passengers.
Tonight it can return from Nador Port after which on Friday it can depart enroute for Alhucemas at 08.00h. On Saturday it can sail two hours later after which on Sunday, it gained’t weigh anchor till the afternoon at 16.45h.
The Ferry firm,Armas-Trasmediterránea foresees 146 journeys between Motril and Nador/Alhucemas. In the meantime, the ferry firm Balearia is utilizing two of its ferries (Nápoles & Bahama Mamma) with a capability to move 2,600 passesngers and 800 autos between them.
Motril port has an space of 40,000 sq/m for parking, 6,000 sq/m of which have shade.
(Information: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)
