The Delegate of the Government, Sabrina Moh, has celebrated that the new maritime contract will be tendered for 78.7 million euros -VAT not included - 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 Government of Spain continues to work to continue guaranteeing connections and improving services on the different maritime routes of Melilla,” he assured while making clear that they will continue to improve the last contract of the Popular Party. In this regard, he stressed that it is “a reality that the Melillense now travels in better boats than it did before, in 2017, with cheaper prices and also with a lot of better services”.
The highest representative of the Government of Spain in the city has highlighted the increase in the budgetary allocation for the provision of this service, which will allow to respond to the citizen demand. “This government listens to and responds to all these requests, we will continue to improve and incorporate new requirements into the contract to obtain the best service,” he stressed.
In addition, it has valued that this contract is offered in two lots, “something much claimed and demanded.” In this way, lot 1 is listed, for the line Melilla – Málaga – Melilla; and lot 2, for the lines Melilla – Almería – Melilla and Melilla – Motril – Melilla. In this regard, he has highlighted the inclusion of the line with Motril through an OSP (public service obligation). “This government has made possible what was impossible for the People’s Party,” he said.
The Delegate of the Government has expressed that this is “an important news for all Melillense citizens” and has assured that “we are going to continue counting, or we want to continue counting, with good services and with quality boats and in that we are going to continue working”
Maritime contract
The Council of Ministers yesterday 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 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 evaluation of the offers, special emphasis is placed on 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