Marrakech – Spanish authorities have suspended all maritime connections between Tangier and Tarifa on Monday as Storm Leonardo continues to disrupt traffic across the Strait of Gibraltar.
The Port Authority of Algeciras Bay confirmed that all scheduled departures from Tarifa to Tangier have been cancelled for the entire day. The suspensions affect morning, afternoon, and evening time slots due to unsafe navigation conditions in the strait.
Meanwhile, the Port of Algeciras maintains restricted access for trucks destined for Tangier Med, though ferry connections between Algeciras and North African ports remain operational despite difficult navigation conditions. Some rotations on the Algeciras-Tangier Med route have continued while others face delays or cancellations.
Port authorities report significant progress in clearing accumulated traffic since operations resumed Thursday. Between January 29 and February 1, approximately 3,000 trucks crossed the strait from Algeciras to destinations including Ceuta and Tangier.
An additional 3,000 heavy vehicles disembarked in the opposite direction, while 2,000 trucks accessed container terminals within the port facilities.
The Port of Algeciras has received 1,200 trucks over the past 60 hours, managed through coordinated efforts by the Spanish civil guard and local police from Algeciras and Los Barrios municipalities. These areas house the main industrial zones designated as waiting areas for heavy traffic.
Port Authority President Gerardo Landaluce characterized the disruption as an exceptional situation, citing the unusually prolonged impact of adverse weather on port operations in the strait. He noted that a full return to normal activity will take several days, given the sizable backlog of trucks accumulated both within the port and in surrounding areas.
The maritime fleet’s performance on the Tangier Med route has not yet reached 100% capacity following the storm. According to Iberian media, a special coordination system remains active involving the Spanish port authority, customs, national police, civil guard, and Algeciras local police to ensure safety and minimize logistic impacts.
Read also: Stormy Rain, Poor Visibility Raise Fears in Northern Morocco
The disruptions coincide with severe weather conditions affecting northern Morocco. Meteorological authorities have issued red weather alerts for several northern provinces, warning of heavy rainfall reaching 100-150 mm through Wednesday, February 4.
The affected areas include Chefchaouen, M’Diq-Fnideq, Tétouan, Tanger-Assilah, Ouezzane, Larache and Fahs-Anjra. Orange alerts remain in effect for additional provinces expecting 40-80 mm of rainfall, while mountainous regions face snowfall accumulations of 40-60 cm above 1,500 meters altitude.
Authorities recommend that passengers and transport operators stay updated on official announcements as maritime operations remain subject to weather developments in the strait.
