The president of the Association of Freight Forwarders, International Shippers, and Associates (ATEIA), Manuel Cózar, has proposed using the Logistics Activities Zone (ZAL) of San Roque as a diversion and orderly regulation space for truck traffic as a solution to the operational collapse affecting the Port of Algeciras.
The proposal arises in response to the blockade situation caused by adverse weather conditions in the Strait, which has led to the accumulation of thousands of heavy vehicles in the region and at the port facilities themselves. According to the head of ATEIA, using the ZAL would allow for the decongestion of access to the port, the industrial estates, and the urban area, preventing trucks from circulating without destination or clear instructions.
The association proposes that vehicles be directed to the ZAL of San Roque, where staggered convoys would be organized towards the Port of Algeciras based on the actual boarding capacity. This system would allow for a more efficient and secure management of heavy traffic, in addition to facilitating the provision of basic services to drivers, such as water, food, and rest areas.
ATEIA warns that numerous trucks already cleared by customs have been unable to access the ships, while some boats are sailing with incomplete loads due to the collapse of the premises. The situation is particularly affecting traffic in the Strait, where trucks with drivers — mainly Moroccans — make up the largest portion of movements, although national transport linked to container traffic is also being adversely affected.
The association emphasizes that this episode highlights the lack of foresight and the fragility of the logistics-port system in the face of adverse situations, thus considering it urgent to adopt immediate measures that go beyond improvised solutions. In this regard, ATEIA insists on the need for permanent infrastructures and protocols that allow for quick and orderly responses to congestion episodes like the current one.
It also warns that the scenario could complicate in the coming days with the planned closure of the terminals and the port of Tangier Med on Wednesday, which would increase pressure on the Port of Algeciras and reinforces the urgency to implement solutions.