Everything ready for Operation Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, a unique model of transit between continents, developing once again with normality this year

The under-secretary recalled that this is a very special year as 2017 is the 30th anniversary of the drafting of the first Special Civil Protection Plan by the Directorate-General of Civil Protection and Emergencies which was known, back in 1987, as 'Operation Transit'.

This first plan took the initial steps in an operation which, year-after-year, has become increasingly efficient thanks to improved planning and coordination and which has now become consolidated as the leading European benchmark in this type of mass transit of people in such a reduced period of time.

The Under-Secretary for Home Affairs urged all tiers of government and other institutions that are taking part in OPE (24 bodies from different ministerial departments plus other public bodies) to maintain the good level of implementation reached in previous years, such that passengers that travel through our country during these months under OPE can do so as fluidly and safely as possible, and so that Spanish citizens that live in those areas that receive this mass movement of vehicles and passengers can maintain their daily routines with the minimum disruption possible.

During the meeting, those in charge of the different bodies involved in the operation reviewed the most important aspects related to the planning and coordination of measures within their respective scopes of action.

The Under-Secretary for Home Affairs also referred to the meeting of the Joint Spain-Morocco Committee held in Agadir on 18 May, at which the two delegations positively assessed the results of OPE 2016 and observed that for yet another year the close collaboration between the two governments has been key in the smooth development of this operation. In addition, there was a fluid exchange of information and a high degree of coordination between the respective police forces of the two countries throughout the whole period.

According to the forecasts, similar numbers are expected this year, in terms of the total number of vehicles and passengers as in previous years, although this may rise slightly. In 2016, OPE coordinated the transit of 2,865,479 people and 655,796 vehicles by sea between Europe and Africa.

Great effort at coordination between large number of public bodies involved

The meeting was attended by the Government Representatives in Andalusia, Ceuta, Melilla and Valencia and the Assistant Representative in Cadiz.

The State Committee for Coordination was also attended by senior officials from the State Secretariat of Security and the Directorates-General of Civil Protection and Emergencies, for Traffic, the National Police and the Guardia Civil under the umbrella of the Ministry of Home Affairs; from the Department of National Security of the Presidency of the Government; from the Directorate-General of the Merchant Navy and the public body Puertos del Estado under the umbrella of the Ministry of Public Works; from the Directorate-General of Spaniards Abroad and from Consular and Migratory Affairs under the umbrella of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; from the Directorate-General of Defence Policy and the Emergency Military Unit under the umbrella of the Ministry of Defence; as well as from the Directorate-General of Public Health, Quality and Innovation under the umbrella of the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, and from the State Meteorology Agency under the umbrella of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Affairs.

Also present were officials from the Port Authorities of the Bay of Algeciras, Almeria, Malaga, Motril, Alicante, Ceuta and Melilla.

Each of the representatives outlined the corresponding information and the actions to be carried out in each case were reviewed in order to ensure that OPE 2017 achieves the same high levels of results that have been achieved in previous years.

Key dates and targets

The preparation of the calendar to cover those days with the highest number of displacements and boardings is one of the key elements to help successfully plan this operation.

Operation Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar begins on 15 June, ends on 15 September and is divided into two phases:

• Outbound Phase: from 15 June to 15 August
• Homeward Phase: from 15 July to 15 September

In the Outbound Phase, potential critical days have been identified in terms of the build-up of traffic and passengers as 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31 July, as well as 1 and 2 August. In turn, in the Homeward Phase, the largest build-ups of traffic are expected between 24 and 27 August.

Another circumstance that tends to affect the course of the operation is the celebration of Ramadan. It is not expected to have the same impact this year as in other years since it ends on 26 June, long before the critical days.

Targets of the Special Civil Protection Plan

Resources are being prepared for the start of OPE 2017 in the next few days, based on the Special Civil Protection Plan, the goals of which are: to have a suitable Fleet Plan to cope with demand; to plan the appropriate size of specific security measures to combine fluidity and security in transit, particularly during the critical dates; to facilitate suitable social and healthcare services, and establish sufficient parking places at ports, along with facilitating rest areas and information services on the most important routes.

All of this has already been coordinated and will be complemented by information campaigns for those citizens affected.

The Fleet Plan scheduled for OPE as a whole is similar to that for last year, with a daily departure capacity of 90,086 passengers and 20,353 vehicles. Out of this total capacity, Algeciras/Tarifa accounts for 75% of passengers and 71% of vehicles. In order to respond to this demand, a total of 35 vessels and nine shipping companies will take part.

From the point of view of the participation of human services, more than 15,000 people are expected to take part between the State law enforcement agencies, healthcare personnel, translators, social workers, the Red Cross, etc.

The Special Civil Protection Plan for OPE 2017 includes the populations and ports of Algeciras (Cadiz), Tarifa (Cadiz), Malaga, Motril (Granada), Almeria, Alicante, Melilla and Ceuta. The Port of Valencia is at a monitoring phase.

Special measures adopted for OPE 2017

The State Committee for the Coordination of Operation Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar 2017 (Spanish acronym: CECO) approved a series of special measures to be carried out in the development of OPE, particularly during the most critical days, such as the exchange of tickets between shipping companies, the separation of lorries and other vehicles at ports, staggered timetables (Puente Marítimo), and restrictions on the embarkation of lorries on critical dates, among other actions aimed at improving the capability to move traffic onto vessels for embarkation.

CECO monitoring of activity at Valencia Port

The Valencia Port Authorities attended the meeting of the committee and reported on the operation of the new route to Mostaganem (Algeria) and the increase seen in the use of the infrastructures and services provided by the port authorities for this year.

The committee decided to specifically monitor movements at the Port of Valencia, with a view to its full incorporation in the OPE operation depending on the results obtained.

At present, Valencia has a single ferry connection to the Algerian city of Mostaganem, which accounts for around 1% of the overall figures for OPE.

The situation as to whether or not the port should be included in OPE does not relieve it from the responsibility to provide normal and habitual services to its customers and the demand for services, resources and activities inherent to the public service provided.