May 23, 2025
Strait of Gibraltar Transit Plan Approved – 4% More Pax Expected
The Spanish Ministry of the Interior has approved the Special Plan for Operación Paso del Estrecho (OPE) 2025, a large-scale logistical operation facilitating the summer transit of Maghreb-origin citizens travelling between Europe and North Africa.
- Operational period: 15 June – 15 September 2025
- Expected traffic: Over 3 million passengers and 800,000 vehicles
- Forecast: +4% passengers, +5% vehicles compared to 2024
Key elements of the plan:
- Fleet Plan: Defines vessels, capacity, and scheduled crossings to ensure smooth flow
- Port coordination: Covers 9 Spanish ports – Algeciras, Tarifa, Almería, Málaga, Motril, Alicante, Valencia, Ceuta, and Melilla
- Multi-agency deployment: Involves 20 national and regional organisations, with over 29,000 personnel, including police, health services, and volunteers
The plan also emphasises:
- Bilateral coordination with Morocco
- Advance ticket purchase to minimise port congestion
- Crisis readiness and safety protocols
Now in its 36th edition, OPE continues to be one of Europe’s largest annual seasonal migration operations by sea.
