The Council of Ministers has today authorized the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility to tender for 78.7 million euros (VAT not included) a new contract to provide the services of the maritime lines between Melilla and Malaga, Motril and Almería to guarantee the connectivity of the autonomous city with the Peninsula.
The Delegate of the Government, Sabrina Moh, has highlighted the importance of this new contract and the “enormous jump in quality with respect to the last maritime contract that the PP Government left us”. “The government that presides over Pedro Sánchez has put almost 80 million euros on the table so that the Melillenses will have better quality and more modern boats during the next four years,” he said.
The highest representative of the Government of Spain in the city has stressed that the objective is to facilitate the connectivity of Melilla with the Peninsula through maritime transport and allow the mobility of citizens between the different destinations.
“Although we have improved maritime transport, we will continue working on the same line, betting on modern boats and greater number of rotations, guaranteeing connectivity with good services and better prices, which is what the Melillenses deserve,” he said.
The contract, which will enter into force in January 2025, has an initial duration of two years, extendable by another two. The contract to operate the lines of public interest is listed in two lots:
- Lot 1, for the line Melilla – Málaga – Melilla, whose base tender price is 10.44 million euros per year.
- Lot 2, for the Melilla – Almería – Melilla and Melilla – Motril – Melilla lines, which are tendered for 9,234 million euros per year.
The sheet establishes at least 6 weekly rotations in the Malaga-Melilla line and three weekly rotations in the Almería and Motril lines, extendable in holiday periods or in high demand.
In the criteria for the valuation of the offers, special emphasis is placed on the reduction of the environmental impact of the fleet and its energy efficiency and, secondly, the lower age of the ships, reduction of tariffs, greater capacity of cabins and additional rotations. that could be proposed in the tender.
In each lot, at least one ro-ro ship with a minimum capacity of 450 seats for passengers must be assigned, of which 200 will be in beds distributed in cabins, and 250 vehicles; the greatest offer of seats in cabins is valued as an improvement.
It is necessary to highlight the aspects of quality and service required, having all the boats with medical service on board, private security, pet space, space of silence, care and activities for children and internet service with free wifi throughout the trip.
The estimated value of the contract includes for the first time the impact of the entry into force, last January, of the European standard that establishes a regime for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading for maritime transport.