Rabat – The port of Tangier city, Morocco on Tuesday welcomed the first ship from Tarifa, Spain as part of the two countries’ decision to resume sea travel gradually.
Spanish news agency EFE celebrated the embarkation of the first shift that took off from Tarifa to arrive in the Tangier port today morning.
EFE said the sea trip included a total of 49 passengers, without vehicles, who boarded this first ferry of the Spanish company FRS.
The boat trip is the first of its kind since the maritime border closure between Spain and Morocco due to COVID-19.
Boat trips will resume on Tuesday with foot and coach passenger services.
The resumption of sea travel will include passengers with cars by April 18.
Medium and long-haul maritime lines operating in the ports of Tangier Med and Nador began gradually resuming activities on Monday, April 11, towards Spanish, French, and Italian ports.
The closure of borders was also due to the diplomatic tension the two countries experienced in 2021 after the Spanish government allowed Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali to enter its territory with a fake identity.
After a year-long tension, Morocco and Spain decided to open a new phase of relations based on mutual trust, respect, and transparency.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Morocco last week to mark the end of the political crisis.
The visit was at the invitation of King Mohammed VI after Spain’s official endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible basis to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
Spain and Morocco issued a joint declaration during Sanchez’s visit, vowing to work together to advance cooperation on all levels.
Under the declaration, both countries also agreed to reopen maritime borders gradually.
Spain and Morocco will also work together to initiate the Marhaba Operation and Crossing Strait Operation. The operations facilitate the transit of Moroccans living abroad during the summer season.
