Operation Crossing the Strait 2024: Morocco and Spain all set
Gone Preparations for Operation Crossing the Strait 2024 (OPE-24) are well underway. The campaign, which promises to be on a massive scale, attracted the interest of the joint Moroccan-Spanish Crossing the Strait Commission, which met on May 20 in Tangiers, under the co-chairmanship of Khalid Zerouali, Wali, Director of Migration and Border Surveillance, and Susana Crisóstomo, Spanish Under-Secretary of State for the Interior.
An operation described as “an eloquent exam-ple of the close coordination and cooperation between Morocco and Spain”, ac-cording to Susana Crisóstomo, stressing that “communication and cooperation be-tween the two countries will ensure the success of Operation Crossing the Strait and manage any unforeseen situations”. In her opinion, the experience accumulat-ed over the years in organizing such an operation bears witness to the effectiveness of this collaboration.
For the Crossing the Strait 2024 operation, a substantial fleet plan has been drawn up, with the participation of seven maritime operators, 29 ships and 11 shipping lines, offering an overall capacity of over 7 million passengers, 2 million vehicles, and 8,000 round trips. Major measures have been implemented in terms of mari-time and road transport, including technical verification campaigns for ships and the mobilization of land transport inspectors.
Upon arrival or departure, Moroccans living abroad will be welcomed by the ex-perienced teams of the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity which provides them with an extensive social assistance scheme. The port infrastructures of Tan-ger-Med, Tanger Ville, Nador, and Al Hoceima have also been updated, offering improvements in terms of passenger comfort and facilitation, including relaxation areas, shaded areas, walkways, a display and signage system, as well as the dredg-ing of car-ferry berths.
The plan also emphasizes the mobilization of local authorities, with the setting up of ad hoc units in the provinces and prefectures, the reinforcement of security ser-vices and the mobilization of Moroccan consular representations in Spain, with daily standby duty, including on weekends and public holidays.
To support this operation, a multimedia communication strategy aimed at Moroc-cans living abroad has been developed, notably for the dissemination of practical information via the Marhaba website of the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidar-ity.
The joint Moroccan-Spanish Crossing the Strait Commission agreed to strengthen coordination between focal points to ensure a smooth flow of information and an-ticipate certain aspects linked to peak day management, ticket interchangeability, and the fight against speculation on sea crossing prices. .
Radia LAHLOU
