Between the port metropolis of the Rhone delta and that of the Algerian capital, maritime traffic resume on 1 November. To the relief of the Algerian community.
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Closed since 19 March 2020, the sea link between Marseille and Algiers will resume service. On October 12, the Algerian Ministry of Transport announced by press that the Algerian public company ENTMV-Algeria Ferries would carry the travelers again “to France, from 1 st in November.” For now, one and a return are provided weekly. Linea Corsica, the French competitor on the sea link, has not yet announced the resumption of its crossings.
But the principle of reciprocity should allow the company to resume traffic on the line in November. Only downside, Algiers is the only city served. The journeys to Oran, Bejaia, Skikda and Annaba have still not resumed. The Algerian Ministry of Transport “will examine the programming of additional trips to other destinations depending on the evolution of the country’s health situation.”
Minimum service
Since the beginning of the pandemic, little Franco-Algerians were able to return back home. Some missed weddings, anniversaries, funerals … and suffer not seeing their families. Algerian borders have gradually opened since June, but journeys by plane, only access until then, became scarce. “Before the crisis, there were 64 flights a day between France and Algeria. Today, there are 24 per week,” says Attar Elyas, editor of the website Travel Visas Algeria. Many of the flights so full.
Also the resumption of crossings was she awaited. Hundreds of people were cooling their heels in front of the Ferry Algeria agencies, including Paris and Lyon. stormed the company called its customers to book their tickets on the Internet. “It’s a huge relief. My family can finally regain his land and his family,” enthuses a young French-Algerian, Nawel Belnour.
Boat brand new
This recovery will mark the debut of the new ship: the Badji Mokhtar 3. The last acquisition Algeria Ferries comes straight from the shipyard in Guangzhou, China. This new boat comes rejuvenate the fleet of the company, rather aging. “The condition of the boats was unspeakable: dilapidated, dirty and poor service … The arrival of this new boat is great news,” rejoices Nawel Belnour
The Badji Mokhtar 3 has a transmission capacity of 1800 passengers and 600 vehicles. It will include two restaurants, a tea room, play areas for children, a gym and a prayer space. “It’s a luxury yacht for a company like Algeria Ferries” says Attar Elyas. Faster, this vessel will make the crossing in eighteen hours earlier when ships put almost six hours of more.
attractive Link
At the port of Marseille, management is “very glad that such a historical line can start anew.” In 2019, the Port OM had 388,687 passengers from or towards Algeria, which represents 12.5% of its traffic. These crossings are used by the vast Algerian community in Marseille, estimated at over 220 000 people. But not only. “It includes mainly families, coming from all over Europe,” said Elyas Attar.
The rates are more attractive than those of the airplane, enable low-income households to return home and to travel with their car. Before the announcement of the resumption, Franco-Algerians feared a spike in prices, in the image of the airline. Indeed, since June, prices soar (from 700 to 1000 euros round trip). Management of Algeria Ferries ensures that rates will remain the same as before the health crisis (316 euros return).