Two additional ferries between Almeria and Nador during 2002 transit operation

Two additional ferries will be added to the fleet servicing the Spanish southern port of Almeria and the Moroccan Mediterranean port of Nador during the 2002 transit operation.

The "Ciudad de Badajoz" and the "Berkane" ferries, which have an overall capacity of 3,600 passengers and 700 vehicles, will meet the increasing demand of Europe-settled Moroccans who transit via Almeria on their way to Morocco for the summer holidays.

According to Morocco's consul in Almeria, the number of Moroccan passengers expected to transit via Almeria as of June 15 is assessed at 700,000 persons and the number of vehicles may reach 130,000, i.e. a respective increase of 10 and 5 percent compared to last year.

Some 1,345,800 Moroccans settled in Europe have spent their 2001 summer holidays in Morocco, recording an increase of 13 percent compared to 2000.