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Marrakech – The Port Authority of Motril, located in southern Spain, has announced it is seeking a new operator for its maritime connection with Tanger Med following Balearia’s decision to suspend the service.
In a statement, the port indicated it is actively working to secure a replacement after Balearia suspended regular service between Motril and Tanger Med, North Africa’s principal port. This connection had become strategic for Motril after FRS withdrew during the pandemic.
According to port officials, the route had demonstrated consistent growth with record figures in both passenger and freight transport.
Since reopening after the health crisis, the line has established itself as a key link for industrial and textile products, carrying goods from brands such as Renault and Inditex. During the first quarter of 2023 alone, Balearia transported 80,000 tons of merchandise in more than 3,000 trucks.
In 2024, the company upgraded the route by replacing the Volcán de Tauce with the ferry Denia Ciutat Creativa. The new vessel, measuring 150.4 meters in length with capacity for 399 passengers and 1,850 linear meters of rolling cargo, was introduced to maintain the route’s growth momentum.
Despite these positive results, Balearia began restricting ticket sales for the Motril-Tanger route during the summer of 2025, eliminating weekend crossings and limiting August trips to just nine days in the first half of the month.
Read also: First Electric Ferry Route to Connect Morocco-Spain with Zero-Emission Vessels
The company justified these measures by citing the need to strengthen the Algeciras-Tanger Med route, which experiences significantly increased passenger demand during Operation Crossing the Strait (OPE) on the Spanish side and the Marhaba Operation on the Moroccan side.
The restructuring follows Balearia’s acquisition of Armas-Trasmediterránea, which led to broader changes in their maritime routes. The Port of Motril says they respect this business decision while noting the importance of maintaining the connection.
The data confirms the route’s relevance: from December 2022 to August 2025, the service transported 1,272,998 tons of cargo and 48,837 intermodal transport units. Traffic increased from 10,886 tons at launch to 444,449 tons in 2023, then 456,031 tons in 2024, before recording 361,632 tons during the first eight months of 2025.
This growth trend is also reflected in truck transport, which rose from 380 units in December 2022 to 16,310 in 2023, followed by 17,511 in 2024, with 14,636 already recorded in 2025 before the final quarter. In total, the maritime connection has transported 48,837 intermodal transport units.
“The data is conclusive and reinforces our belief that the connection must continue operating with another shipping company,” port officials stated.
The port says they aim to ensure continuity for the route’s users, given its significant growth and importance for freight transport between Morocco and Spain.
