The President of the Company, Adolfo Utor stated in a press conference in Melilla, that services will resume on December 15. There will be a daily sailing from Melilla to Motril, at 13.00 (08.00 on Saturdays) arriving four hours later at 17.00. Return sailings from Motril will be at 19.00 (14.00 on Saturdays), arriving back in Melilla at 23.00.

The vessel will also sail to Almeria on a daily basis, except Wednesdays and Saturdays, leaving Melilla at 00.59, arriving at 05.00, with the return sailing from Almeria at 07.00.

As predicted previously, the vessel to be used will be the chartered-in 2007-built NISSOS CHIOS.

With Balearia joining the battle, they will compete with Armas head-on out of Motril, and with Trasmediterranea and to a lesser extent, Armas out of Almeria. There can be no doubt that both Armas and Balearia would prefer to serve Nador (Morocco) instead of Melilla,but in the absence of receiving any authorisation from the Moroccan authorities, both are happy to serve Melilla and show the Spanish Authorities what they can do, with a view to winning the Public Service Contract to Melilla, which is up for renewal in May 2017.

Meanwhile, Africa Morocco Link, the line formed by the Moroccan Bank BMCE and the Attica Group, continue to show interest in starting a service between Nador and Almeria in early 2017.

© Shippax / Mike Barker