Operation Crossing the Strait took three weeks to gain cruising speed and improve the figures by a significant amount compared to the previous one, which was held in 2019.
This can be seen in the yesterday’s data from the Subdelegation of Government of Spain at Almeria. It shows that passenger and vehicle traffic has increased by more that 50%, despite rotations decreasing.
Official statistics show that there have been 58,199 passengers who have travelled from Almeria to the ports of Melilla, Nador, in Morocco, and Oran, Ghazaouet in Algeria. This has happened in the three weeks since Operation Crossing the Strait began. This figure is 58% more than the 2019 number, which was 36,827.
The number of embarked cars has also increased by 54.3% to 14,029 despite the fact there were fewer shipments (rotations), on the lines to Morocco, Melilla, and that rotations with Algeria were reduced due to restrictions on maritime traffic.
This week’s third week has seen the greatest increase in traffic since the second. The data showed a 9% growth in passenger traffic, and 7% for vehicles.
Yesterday, the Subdelegation of Government of Spain in Almeria stated that the increase of data in comparison to OPE 2019 was due to optimization of ships which have better gauging and shipping companies incorporating ships with higher capacities. Three weeks after the device was launched, it was found that rotations and shipment have decreased by 13.4% this year compared to the summer 2019.
Concerning the assistance device: In the three weeks following the OPE, there was a noticeable increase in social assistance for travelers (82.9%), in health assistance (103.1%), and in translations (138.4%).
In summary, the volume figures for Almeria’s port operation have increased “notoriously” since July 5. This increase is expected to continue in 2019, particularly from mid-July when France celebrates its national holiday to mid-August.
Almeria, however, is second in traffic to the rest of Spanish ports in passenger and vehicle boarding numbers, behind Algeciras. However, the data are much lower than those in Rate.
