Port of Almería sees heavily reduced passenger traffic

been exclusively due to the restrictions on the movement of people adopted to combat the effects of Covid-19, both by Spain, and by the governments of Morocco and Algeria. The declaration of the pandemic – which forced the cancellation of Operation Paso del Estrecho – broke the good start of the year registered by the Port of Almería, which in January 2020 increased the movement of travelers by 8.4%, and in February more 15%. Since the middle of last March and throughout the exceptional period – and until today – the Port of Almería has maintained regular ferry relations with North Africa, but only for the transport of goods. With the port of Nador, Morocco, only the transport is carried out with trucks with driver; with that of Oran, Algeria, only truck platforms, without a driver; and with that of Melilla, trucks with driver, as well as exceptional passenger transport for persons authorized by the Spanish Administration. In the service between Almería and Melilla, last year 60,780 passengers traveled – between round trips – which represents almost 48% of total passenger traffic. The ferry service with the Port of Nador registered just over 53,300 passengers (42% of the total); with the port of Ghazaouet, 2,800 travelers, and with that of Oran, almost 10,000 (10% between the two Algerian ports). Vehicle transport The drop in vehicle traffic between the two shores of the Alboran Sea was similar to that of passengers (86.5% less). In total, a little more than 30,200 vehicles were transported, compared to 225,187 in 2019. The ferry service between Almería and Melilla moved more than 46% of the vehicles, with a little more than 14,000 units; followed by the service with Nador, with 11,034 (36.5%). More than 5,000 vehicles moved with the ports of Algeria (17%). Copyright (C) PortSEurope. All Rights Reserved. 2021.