The port of Motril is committed to the market of Morocco
The Logismed transport and logistics exhibition opens its doors in Casablanca to promote a key sector in the Spanish-Moroccan economic relations. The volume of port traffic between Spain and Morocco reached a total of 573 million tonnes in 2022, of which 30% was handled by the Andalusian ports. In this context, Atalayar talks to Lorenzo Vera, manager of Motrilport.
What is the historical relationship of the port of Motril with Logismed?
The port of Motril is a regular at the Logismed fair, we usually participate since 2015, this year is very special because it is the tenth anniversary of this meeting and we come with the entire port community to present the services and the excellences that the port has and the data of the ro-ro traffic with Morocco has some unbeatable data. (NDLR: ro-ro traffic refers to the ship or vessel that transports road cargo, from trucks to cars).
What points would you highlight about the relationship of the port of Motril with Morocco?
We have brought our services to present them to Moroccan transport, logistics and forwarding companies because we really believe that Morocco is not only the future, it is the present.
We always want to be in these commercial and cooperative relations, not only because of the historical legacy of Granada, but also because the port of Motril claims to be the bridge between Europe and Africa and vice versa. Morocco is growing at a very good rate and for us it is a strategic market.
The port of Motril has made a strong commitment since 2011 to ro-ro traffic: we have four regular lines with North Africa, three with Morocco (Nador, Al Hoceima and Tangier Med) and one with Melilla. We have become the port of the Alboran Sea or the southern port with the highest number of regular lines with North Africa.
This puts us in an enviable position because we are what we like to call a "boutique" port which puts its customers at the centre and always works to ensure that they have the best profitability within the right logistics, always with sustainable criteria, both environmental and social as well as economic.
What are the strategic advantages of the port?
The port of Motril is very well connected with two major motorways such as the A-7 and the A-44. In the south, Motril is the closest port to Madrid, which means easy access to the large fruit and vegetable distribution markets, among others. In nine hours you are in La Junquera and in eight and a half hours in Irun, we are a direct access at European level.
We are committed to the lorry and we provide specific services to the lorry driver because for us it is very important that all the members of the chain are in the best possible shape and that they feel at ease in our port.
We are a port that likes to work in terms of partnership or cooperation because the projects are long term. In this way we are going to achieve higher standards and we are going to respond to the new needs of the client: improving times, seeking to improve cooperation with the other administrations so that the goods are in the port in the shortest possible time and arrive at their destination with the best sanitary, phytosanitary and customs guarantees required by the Spanish State.
What role can Motril play in relation to other ports closer to Morocco such as Algeciras?
We consider that the Strait is not narrow, but that the Strait is very large. The economic flow that Morocco represents can have new opportunities and I understand that the ports are complementary. Algeciras is the strong point, undoubtedly, but we believe that diversification helps all clients and helps us all to become stronger. The port of Motril is an uncongested port that adapts to the timetable of a line that is being a success with 9,000 trucks and 235,000 tonnes in the first five months of the year.
We are committed to being a solution to the issues that our customers need and the Tangier Med - Motril line and vice versa is a solution to the logistic, industrial, agri-food needs that Morocco requires. We are very happy with our collaboration with Tangier Med, to be with them is to be at another level and also being the port of Motril the youngest in the Spanish system, we are from 2005 as port authority, although the port has existed since 1908.
What are your plans in the short term?
For the future, we are committed to investment in infrastructures such as new ro-ro ramps, among others, in providing services to lorry drivers because all our lorries are within our system, there are no car parks outside. It is a very safe port, very flexible thanks to the single window. It is a commitment to take the infrastructures one step further.
Fernando Domingo
From Casablanca.