The Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohammed Abdeljalil, took stock of Operation Marhaba on Wednesday at a meeting attended by representatives of Moroccan and foreign shipping companies and Moroccan port authorities.
From its launch on June 5 to September 15, a total of 2.84 million passengers and 642,000 vehicles passed through Moroccan ports in both directions, as part of this operation. At a meeting to evaluate the operation, attended by representatives of Moroccan and foreign shipping companies and Moroccan port authorities, the Minister stressed that the number of passengers had increased by 23% and the number of vehicles by 20% compared with Marhaba 2022. The Ministry has mobilized 32 ships from 9 companies on all shipping routes linking Moroccan ports with those of Spain, France and Italy, to provide 538 weekly trips, with a maximum capacity of 500,000 passengers and 136,000 vehicles.
To ensure the smooth running of this operation, the Ministry has taken a series of measures, including drawing up a fleet plan and voyage schedule, increasing the offer, diversifying transit points and ensuring compliance with national and international maritime regulations for the vessels concerned, particularly those relating to maritime safety and security, the Minister said. In addition, Mr. Abdeljalil said that the Ministry was monitoring travel fares and making advance reservations for tickets on all lines involved in the transit process, with a view to taking proactive measures and subsequently ensuring the fluidity of travel between the two shores during peak hours. As part of the Marhaba 2022 operation, the national ports recorded traffic of 3.2 million passengers and 558,000 vehicles between June 15 and September 15, carried by a fleet of 33 ships linking Moroccan and European ports. The port of Tangier Med accounted for the lion’s share, with 59% of passenger volume, against 21% for the port of Tangier City and 19% for the port of Nador.
The 2022 edition was marked by the implementation of a global reception system in Morocco, France, Italy and Spain, as well as the opening of new reception sites in Morocco to support the return of MREs. The Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity had activated 23 reception areas to cope with the intensity of sea and air traffic during this period. Two new sites were opened at Rabat-Salé airport and at M’diq (Smir) in the form of a rest area.
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