This new line between the port of Portimão, in the district of Faro, and the Moroccan port of Tangier, could join the already approved connections with the ports of Marseille, in France, and Genoa, in Italy.

Also existing is the line between Sète, in France, and Nador, in the northeast of Morocco, but at the moment, the inclusion of lines from Spanish ports is not contemplated, reports the EFE agency.

On 6 June, the Moroccan government cancelled 'Operation Paso del Estrecho' (OPE) by excluding the Spanish ports of Algeciras, Tarifa, Motril, Malaga, Almeria and Ceita from sea routes this summer.

This decision caused discomfort, especially in Cádiz, in southern Spain, where the largest number of travellers every year is concentrated.

In order to reduce as much as possible the costs of these boat trips, the Government has imposed 'reference prices' on companies of 995 Euros for a family of four, round trip, for long-distance routes, and 450 Euros for the medium distance travel.

The goal is to transport 48 thousand people and 15 thousand vehicles per week by boat, and a total of 650,000 people and 180 thousand vehicles, a fifth of the numbers registered in a normal year.