Maritime traffic across the Strait of Gibraltar was disrupted on February 7th, when strong winds and rough seas due to Storm Marta rendered ferry operations unsafe. This prompted authorities to curtail services linking mainland Spain with North African ports in Morocco and Ceuta.
Spanish port officials reported that all sailings from the harbour of Algeciras to Morocco’s Tanger Med were cancelled after the Moroccan port declared a midday closure on safety grounds. Passenger access to the quay was fully suspended, with freight truck movements to Tanger Med also restricted under the adverse conditions.
The neighbouring port of Tarifa likewise suspended its ferry link with Tangier City as sea conditions deteriorated.
On the busy Algeciras–Ceuta route, high-speed crossings were initially cancelled in the early morning and, despite brief attempts to resume operations, all further departures for the day were ultimately called off by operators as the weather persisted. Another carrier withdrew its afternoon sailings on the Jaume III ferry, citing the continued unfavourable maritime environment; these developments were confirmed through notices at the ports and communications from local authorities. However, one operator maintained scheduled rotations despite the worsening weather, continuing crossings where conditions allowed.
The latest interruption in ferry passages across the strait follows a period earlier in the week when services had resumed after disruption from Storm Leonardo.
Spanish and Moroccan meteorological services had issued yellow and orange weather alerts for the region, warning of heavy rainfall, strong winds and hazardous coastal conditions, with gusts potentially reaching 80 km/h and seas building to heights of around four metres, conditions that contributed directly to the suspension of ferry operations and other transport disruptions.
Authorities advised mariners and travellers to seek updates from ferry operators before proceeding to terminals, given the likelihood of additional last-minute cancellations as the storm system continued to affect the strait.