Manuel Rejano, Baleària's delegate in the southern zone, passed away on Wednesday, March 4, causing deep shock in the maritime-port sphere of the Strait of Gibraltar and, in particular, in Ceuta, the city that saw him born and with which he maintained a close bond throughout his professional life.
Rejano had an extensive career linked to passenger maritime transport in one of the areas of highest operational intensity in the western Mediterranean. His first steps in the sector were as a delegate for Trasmediterránea, a company where he began to acquire in-depth knowledge of the particularities of traffic in the Strait. He later also worked for Buquebus, another shipping company with a strong presence on these routes, which allowed him to expand his experience and consolidate a network of professional relationships on both shores.
However, it was at Baleària where he developed the longest and most significant stage of his career. For more than twenty years, he served as a delegate in the southern zone, a position of enormous responsibility that encompassed the connections between the ports of Algeciras and Tarifa with Ceuta and Tangier Med. During this period, Rejano became a reference figure within the structure of the shipping company and a recognized interlocutor for the various administrations and operators in the sector.
The company has wanted to emphasize, on a professional level, his continued efforts in favor of the connection between Algeciras and Ceuta, a route to which he devoted special attention and on which he worked tirelessly to improve frequencies and service conditions. Among the most remembered initiatives of his management is the reduction of rates for non-residents in Ceuta, a measure that contributed to facilitate travel between the autonomous city and the Peninsula and had a positive effect on the territory's tourist promotion.
On a personal level, the news of his passing was particularly painful for his colleagues at Baleària, who all agree on highlighting "his commitment, professionalism, and human quality" as the traits that best defined the Ceuta executive. Those who worked with him during the different stages of his career remember his closeness in dealings, his ability to resolve complex situations, and his detailed knowledge of the passenger traffic needs in the Strait.
Expressions of condolences followed on both shores after the news was known. The Port Authority of Ceuta was one of the first institutions to publicly convey its sorrow to the family, friends, and the Baleària team. "His commitment, professionalism, and dedication to the development of maritime traffic and the connectivity of our city have left an indelible mark on the port community," the port authority stated.