Algeciras Loses Ground to Tanger Med in Strategic Strait of Gibraltar Battle
The port of Algeciras, Spain’s busiest in terms of traffic, is facing a important setback in its competition with Tanger Med for control over the Strait of Gibraltar. This shift comes as Maersk, the Danish global leader in container transport, announced its decision to abandon Algeciras as a stopover on its commercial route linking India to the United states, opting rather for the Moroccan port of Tanger Med.
This move underscores the growing attractiveness of Tanger Med, wich has been steadily reinforcing its position as a key maritime hub. According to sources cited by Iberian media okdiaro, Maersk’s MECL service, connecting India, Pakistan, adn the Middle East to the U.S. East Coast, will now include a stopover in Mundra (India) and eliminate Algeciras on its return journey from America. The goal? To reduce transit times, currently at 46 days, by an average of five days.
The new rotation will begin in Jebel Ali (Dubai), with stops in Mundra, Pipavav (India), and Salalah (Oman), before reaching the U.S. with stops in Newark, Charleston, Savannah, houston, and Norfolk. After crossing the Atlantic, the service will make a stopover in Morocco before heading back to the Middle East. Notably, this service will no longer include any stopovers in European ports.
This decision comes amid growing concerns among southern European ports about potential diversions of trade flows due to the European Union’s new carbon emissions tax (ETS), which took effect on December 1. According to a study by IRP Engineering,this tax could generate additional costs of up to €160,000 per ship.
Though, Maersk has clarified that these adjustments are “current” in the maritime industry and that the refocusing on Africa stems from “purely commercial decisions” autonomous of the ETS. The company emphasized its support for regional initiatives promoting the ecological transition of maritime transport, including the EU’s ETS, which aims to narrow the cost gap between fossil fuels and green energy.
Despite this shift, Maersk has assured that the port of Algeciras remains a “strategic priority” for APM Terminals and will play a “key role” in the upcoming Gemini network, set to launch on February 1. This network will integrate “several major services linking Asia and Europe, with ships capable of carrying up to 20,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) calling at this port.”
The Gemini network aims to simplify maritime operations between East and West through single operator loops, fewer port calls per service, and the use of terminals offering optimal productivity and efficiency. It will include 29 main maritime services, described as “dynamic and efficient,” alongside a vast interregional service infrastructure. In this context, both Algeciras and Tanger Med remain crucial stopover points for routes linking Asia to northern Europe.
Key Points at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Maersk’s Decision | Abandons Algeciras for Tanger Med on India-U.S. route. |
| Transit Time Reduction | Aims to cut current 46-day transit by five days. |
| New Rotation | Jebel Ali → Mundra → pipavav → Salalah → U.S. → Morocco → Middle East. |
| European ETS Impact | Potential additional costs of €160,000 per ship. |
| Gemini Network | Launches February 1; Algeciras remains a key stopover for asia-Europe routes. |
The battle for control over the Strait of Gibraltar continues to evolve, with Tanger Med emerging as a formidable competitor to Algeciras. As Maersk reshapes its global routes, the maritime industry watches closely to see how these strategic shifts will impact trade flows and port dynamics in the region.
