The Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA) negotiates with its counterpart in Tangier-Med a plan to modernize the fleet of ferries that connect the Strait of Gibraltar. Not only for passenger traffic, but also for ro-ro cargo in the face of the evidence of some old ships that is revealed with big smoke at the start of machines. “They are not suitable boats”, acknowledged the president of the Port of Algeciras, Manuel Morón, at the informative breakfast of Grupo Joly celebrated with the sponsorship of Banco Santander.
In order to modernize the fleet, the Port of Algeciras has talks with Morocco for the launching of competitions to exploit the different routes that give certainty to the shipping companies for several years. “It was done with the route of the Port of Tarifa to the city of Tangier, and the shipping companies need to have a broad horizon to invest in a more modern, capable and comfortable fleet,” said Morón, although he acknowledged that the pace of Conversations could be improvable. With new ships, according to Morón, the door would open to the use of fuels such as liquefied gas, which is much less polluting.
The protection of the environment was one of the topics addressed by Morón in his lecture on the future of the Port of Algeciras. He spoke about it mainly when analyzing the fuel supply situation (bunkering), which represents 45% of the Gross Added Value that the Dock of the Strait generates each year. “The environment is a priority to which we dedicate great efforts, taking care of the Bay of Algeciras, avoiding incidents such as spills that have been reduced in recent years, but also smells so as not to antagonize public opinion with the Port,” he said. . On this second point, Morón noted that of the 38 episodes of bad smell in the city of Algeciras reported last summer 12 were linked to hydrocarbons (refueling or storage) and another 26 to the discharge of untreated sewage, for which he claimed greater efforts to the rest of administrations to tackle the problem and its effects in the city.
Morón highlighted the development of a sustainable port as one of the transversal challenges underway. “The zero accident is not possible, but it can minimize the impact of the port,” said the president of the Port Authority. Faced with the future, Manuel Morón proposed the implementation of liquefied natural gas, the electrification of the docks to avoid engines started during operations and the aforementioned modernization of the ferry fleet.
The president of the APBA also put on the table several challenges for whoever succeeds him in office soon. The appointment of the new president is not yet defined, since it is a competence of the Autonomous Community that presumably will be addressed after the regional elections. Exploring the possibility of a new study to expand the Port of Tarifa (after the failed attempt of its management period) was one of them. The president of the Port of Algeciras had emotional words to say goodbye publicly, with special attention to the workers and the port community.
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