The Maritime Captaincy of Algeciras has officially notified Agaden–Ecologists in Action of the opening of an administrative sanctioning file against the ship Jaume I of Baleària for the episode of irregular emissions documented at the port of Tarifa during the past month of August. The decision comes in an area where there is a high-density maritime traffic and an environment subject to specific environmental protection.
The administrative procedure originates from the complaint filed by the environmental organization following the dark smoke emissions generated by the ship during its port maneuvers. The episode was documented by various media outlets, which reflected the complaints about visible pollution in the Tarifa dock and the falling of soot residues into the port water.
The Maritime Captaincy has completed the collection of relevant information and confirms that the sanctioning procedure continues based on the current regulations regarding marine pollution. According to Agaden, this decision constitutes a formal recognition of the reported facts, although the organization points out that a structural problem related to environmental monitoring in the Strait of Gibraltar persists, particularly in the ports of Tarifa and Algeciras, where vessels with age require rigorous controls.
The most serious incident was recorded on August 12, when the anomalous emission of smoke caused the precipitation of soot particles into the sea. The Maritime Captaincy establishes that in similar situations, whenever the responsible vessel is identified, files are opened for marine pollution. In this case, the identification of the ship posed no difficulties: the Jaume I, built in 1994 and with more than thirty years in service, has a history known to ecologists, who in August quantified its emissions as equivalent to the impact of more than 300 vehicles operating continuously at the same point.
The conservation association points to a contradiction in the shipping company's commercial strategy: Baleària promotes this route as the first 100% green corridor between Spain and Morocco, a goal planned for 2027 through the incorporation of the first electric fast ferries. However, the Jaume I not only accumulates decades of operation, but also has a history of incidents such as a fire in the engine room in 2013 caused by a fuel pipe rupture. These elements reinforce, according to Agaden, the need for a thorough review before continuing operations at a port located in the Natural Park of the Strait.
Since August, the organization had requested the precautionary suspension of the ferry's operations until the emissions were corrected, as well as inspections of engines and control systems. Complaints from citizens and businesses located in front of the port — related to dense smoke, persistent odors, and visible residues in the water — have generated social pressure that has finally led to the opening of the administrative file.
For Agaden, this case constitutes a symptom of a broader problem: the need to reinforce environmental controls in the Strait, a maritime corridor of strategic importance and high environmental sensitivity. The organization maintains its requests to the Maritime Captaincy and the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA) in three lines of action: increased supervision of vessels, considering the diversity of fleets and their age; quick and proportionate response to any irregular emissions, and informational transparency so that citizens have access to the procedures and results of administrative actions.
The sanctioning file opened by the Maritime Captaincy will be processed in accordance with the applicable marine pollution regulations, although no deadlines or economic amounts associated with the procedure have been specified. The Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras manages an annual maritime traffic that exceeds 100 million tons, with regular connections to Morocco that represent a significant volume of passengers and vehicles, making emission control a critical factor for the environmental management of the port.
The ship Jaume I operates on the Tarifa-Tangier route, a connection with daily frequencies that is part of Baleària's offering in the Strait of Gibraltar. The shipping company based in Denia manages a fleet of more than 30 vessels in the Mediterranean and plans to incorporate electric propulsion technology as part of its decarbonization strategy by 2027.