Spanish authorities have halted all maritime connections between Tangier and Tarifa as Storm Leonardo continues to wreak havoc on traffic across the Strait of Gibraltar. The Port Authority of Algeciras Bay announced that all ferry departures from Tarifa to Tangier have been canceled for the entire day, affecting all scheduled morning, afternoon, and evening slots due to safety concerns regarding navigation.
Despite the disruptions, the Port of Algeciras has implemented restricted access for trucks headed to Tangier Med, with some ferry connections to North African ports remaining operational, albeit under challenging navigation conditions. Certain rotations on the Algeciras-Tangier Med route are still active, although many others are facing delays or cancellations.
Port authorities indicated that they have made significant progress in clearing the backlog of traffic that accumulated after operations resumed last week. Between January 29 and February 1, approximately 3,000 trucks crossed the strait from Algeciras to various destinations including Ceuta and Tangier, while an equal number of heavy vehicles made the return trip. Furthermore, about 2,000 trucks accessed container terminals within the port facilities.
In a coordinated effort involving the Spanish civil guard and local police, the Port of Algeciras has managed to receive 1,200 trucks in the past 60 hours, with the waiting areas for heavy traffic situated in the surrounding municipalities of Algeciras and Los Barrios. Port Authority President Gerardo Landaluce described the situation as exceptional, noting the abnormal length of adverse weather impacting operations. He emphasized that it will take several days to fully return to standard activity levels, as a significant number of trucks have built up within the port and its vicinity.
Following the storm, the maritime fleet serving the Tangier Med route has yet to operate at full capacity. Iberian media report that a special coordination system is currently in place, involving various agencies such as the Spanish port authority, customs, national police, civil guard, and local police to ensure safety and minimize logistical disruptions.
The adverse weather conditions also extend to northern Morocco, where meteorological authorities have issued red weather alerts for several provinces, forecasting heavy rainfall between 100-150 mm through February 4. Areas under alert include Chefchaouen, M’Diq-Fnideq, Tétouan, Tanger-Assilah, Ouezzane, Larache, and Fahs-Anjra, while orange alerts are issued for provinces expecting 40-80 mm of rain, in addition to significant snowfall in mountainous regions.
As maritime operations remain contingent upon weather developments in the strait, authorities advise passengers and transport operators to remain vigilant and stay updated on official announcements. The hope is that safety will be prioritized, and operations can return to normal soon, benefiting all those reliant on these critical transport routes.