Selon Europa Sur, Baleària, which has been looking for almost two decades to establish itself in Tarifa, considers this moment to be decisive. With the expected increase in traffic during Operation Marhaba, the annual crossing of the strait by thousands of MREs, and the development prospects linked to the joint organization of the World Cup in 2030 by Spain, Morocco and Portugal, the Spanish company intends to position itself as a player in the modernization of this maritime route.
The company has proposed an ambitious €135 million project, including the construction of two zero-CO emissions electric ferries.2capable of carrying up to 800 passengers, as well as the electrification of port infrastructure. These ships, built in Spain, aim to place Baleària at the forefront of technological innovation and sustainability.
FRS Iberia Maroc/DFDS, which already operates on this line, criticized Baleària’s offer, describing it as “reckless” and based, according to her, on unrealistic projections of minimum traffic. According to FRS/DFDS, some promises made by Baleària, such as the electricity supply for the ferries in Tangier, lack coordination with the Moroccan authorities, making the project technically fragile. The company also puts forward its own proposal, which it considers more realistic and consistent with the requirements of the call for tenders.
While Baleària declares itself the winner of the tender even before the official conclusion of the process, FRS/DFDS calls for a transparent and rules-compliant award. It underlines the importance of guaranteeing technically viable and economically realistic projects to preserve the stability of the maritime line and the interests of both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar.
The official result of the call for tenders, still awaited, will determine the future of this strategic route.
