Mohammedia – Ferry traffic across the Strait of Gibraltar ground to a halt today as Storm Marta swept through the area, bringing strong winds and heavy seas that forced widespread cancellations on routes linking southern Spain with Morocco and Ceuta.
Spanish port authorities confirmed that all ferry services between Algeciras and Tarifa, and to Morocco’s Tanger Med, were suspended after the Moroccan port closed at midday due to unsafe weather conditions.
The Port Authority of Algeciras said all departures scheduled from 10:00 a.m. onward were canceled. Passenger traffic stopped completely, and access to the port was restricted for international freight trucks heading to Tanger Med.
Tarifa followed suit, announcing a full cancellation of its ferry links with Tangier City as conditions in the strait continued to deteriorate.
The storm also disrupted the busy Algeciras-Ceuta route. Early in the morning, DFDS canceled its first departures before briefly resuming service, which didn’t last.
By mid-afternoon, the company confirmed that its high-speed vessel, the HSC Ceuta Jet, had canceled all remaining sailings for the day, including departures scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Operations were suspended until further notice.
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Baleària also pulled its vessels. The company canceled all afternoon sailings of the Jaume III ferry, with departures from 2:30 p.m. onward removed from the schedule, according to notices displayed at the port and confirmations from the Ceuta Port Authority.
Trasmediterránea was the only operator still running crossings, maintaining its regular rotations despite the worsening weather.
The latest disruption comes just days after ferry services resumed following Storm Leonardo, which had already caused delays for travelers and disrupted the flow of goods between both sides of the strait earlier this week. For passengers and transport operators, it was another sudden stop.
Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, Aemet, issued a yellow alert for Ceuta, warning of heavy rain, strong winds, storms, and dangerous coastal conditions.
Orange alerts remained in place for the Strait of Gibraltar and the province of Cádiz. Forecasters warned of wind gusts reaching 80 kilometers per hour and waves of up to four meters.
Port authorities advised travelers to check directly with ferry companies before heading to terminals, warning that last-minute cancellations and delays remain likely as Storm Marta continues to affect the region.
