There is still no news on the launch of the line that will link Agadir and Lanzarote. It was scheduled for the beginning of summer and even the date of July 18 was set for the first inaugural trip with business people from the Canary Islands. "We are still waiting for the decision to be made in the Moroccan Ministry of Transport," Arístides León, head of the Proexca office in Morocco, based in Agadir, where ninety percent of the Canary Islands companies installed in the Alaouite kingdom are concentrated, told ACN Press.
The minister, León continues, is on vacation and until the 22nd of this month "there will be nothing new." For the moment, "the Ministry, according to what they have told us, has delegated the negotiations to the Merchant Navy and it will be at the end of this month when we can meet."
The Merchant Navy is responsible for supervising and managing all agreements and the operation of shipping lines. A few weeks ago, this department informed Naviera Armas that for the opening of the passenger and cargo shipping line with Agadir "they had to provide a guarantee of 300,000 euros." This measure was requested by Morocco after the sinking of the "Assalama" in Tarfaya four months ago. The shipping company refused to respond to this guarantee, arguing that its professionalism and experience in the sector is guarantee enough.
Now, those responsible for Armas and the Merchant Navy will have to negotiate from the 22nd of this month to reach a solution. According to León, in Agadir they support the opening of the connection and "both the wali (governor) and some parliamentarians have informed the Ministry of Transport of the importance of launching the line."
ACN Press
