Port authorities in Motril have just finalised extensive arrangements for the 2026 edition of the Operacion Paso del Estrecho. This annual project runs from June 15 to September 15 and makes the Granada Province facility one of the main maritime links between Europe and North Africa throughout the peak holiday period. Record passenger numbers achieved last year Port management reported strong results from the 2025 campaign. Total travellers reached 127,208, while vehicles totalled 32,768. These numbers represent growth of 17 per cent for passengers and
14.7 per cent for vehicles compared with the prior year. Such volumes placed Motril as the fourth busiest Spanish port involved in this coordinated national effort. Outbound traffic during the initial phase from mid-June to mid-August included 60,512 passengers and 15,850 vehicles. Return journeys from July to September added 66,696 passengers and 16,918 vehicles. Operations proceeded smoothly without major disruptions and maintained high levels of efficiency at boarding areas. Growth projections for the coming season Expectations point towards further expansion in passenger volumes during 2026.
Steady increases in recent years support this outlook for Motril. Coordination between the Port Authority, state security forces, civil protection services and other relevant bodies receives extra attention to guarantee safe and efficient movement of people. New border control technology arrives A fresh intelligent border management system forms one of the main updates. Compliant with current European standards, the setup uses biometric processes to speed up passenger identification and optimise flow management for arrivals and departures. Scale of this annual migration This operation ranks among
the planet’s largest seasonal population movements. Each summer millions of people move across frontiers, especially Maghrebi citizens, mostly from Morocco and Algeria, and living in various European countries who return home for their summer breaks. Motril port enters the new period determined to expand its role in the national framework. Continued success from 2025 results encourages efforts to strengthen its status among western Mediterranean maritime entry points. Motril Port focuses on maintaining safety standards while handling growing demand effectively.
Motril Port, Operación Paso del Estrecho, 2026, border management, biometric system, summer crossings, Granada Province, Spain North Africa maritime link