The Spanish maritime company Baleària presented on Tuesday in Tangier a project for an electric, zero-emission maritime link between Tangier and Tarifa, operated by two high-speed electric ferries set to be launched in 2027.
The presentation ceremony was attended by Morocco’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, the Spanish Ambassador to Morocco, Enrique Ojeda, the President of the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras, the President of the Port of Tangier City, the Spanish Secretary-General for Air and Maritime Transport, and the President of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council.
This public-private partnership project aims to establish a green maritime corridor between Europe and Africa, enabling a fully electric, CO2-free crossing between the two shores of the Strait.
It includes the construction of two twin vessels in Spain and the installation of port infrastructure for electric charging in both Tangier and Tarifa.
In a statement to MAP, Minister Kayouh stressed that strengthening the maritime fleet is part of a broader strategy to ensure smooth and sustainable mobility, particularly within the framework of the Marhaba Operation, conducted under the supervision of the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity.
He noted that the ministry is supporting the operation by mobilizing around 29 vessels, offering a weekly capacity of 500,000 passengers and 130,000 vehicles across four Moroccan ports and twelve European ports.
"The goal is to make as many vessels as possible available to meet rising demand and ensure optimal crossing conditions for Moroccans living abroad," he said.
For his part, Baleària’s CEO, Georges Bassoul, stated that each vessel will produce 16 MW of electric power via four electric thrusters powered by batteries with a capacity of 11,500 kWh, allowing the entire crossing to be completed using electric propulsion only, with zero emissions.
In a detailed presentation of the project’s technical aspects, Bassoul emphasized that these will be fully decarbonized crossings, meeting 2050 sustainability goals as early as 2027.
MAP: 24 June 2025
