Tangiers block to lift
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• British hauliers to Morocco have welcomed early reports that the month-long blockade of Tangiers port has ended, but are angry that they have had to bear the costs of a dispute over fishing rights.
The Moroccans had blocked all ferries and EU trucks from leaving Tangiers for the Spanish ports of Algeciras and Cadiz following a dispute over the licensing of Spanish trawlermen to fish in Moroccan waters. While British hauliers have been able to send trucks through Spain to Morocco, they have been forced to find other routes back, mainly through Marseille and Port Vendres in France. Concessions have been made for reefers, but the blockage has done greatest damage to nonperishable freight out of Morocco. such as garments. Lincolnshire haulier John Mann runs 30 trucks along the Spain/Moroccan route and says the blockade has increased his costs by 18%. "We've had to pay taxes for every day our trucks have been stuck in Tangiers," he says.
"The cost of the ferries to France is almost double and our drivers have had to pay tolls through France. Why have hauliers like us and our customers had to pay for a dispute that has nothing to do with us?"
Another garment haulier, London's Daly Transport Services, says the blockade has meant delays of about five days. DTS employs 20 drivers on the route, but has been forced to use extra trailers on the alternative routes to meet clients' deadlines. However, DTS international operations manager Nigel Fisher says he has heard reports from Tangiers suggesting that the blockade is drawing to an end.