Operation Crossing the Strait (OPE) 2023 reaches an all-time high of 775,366 vehicles

Operation Crossing the Strait 2023 has ended with a historic figure for vehicle traffic, a total of 775,366, which represents 11.5% more than in 2022. This is the highest figure achieved in this scheme since it was launched in 1987.

This year, a total of 3,219,534 passengers (10.6 per cent more than last year) have crossed the Strait of Gibraltar smoothly and safely in the largest movement of people between two continents. In addition, the Directorate General of Civil Protection and Emergencies of the Ministry of Home Affairs has coordinated a total of 11,084 ship rotations (11.9 per cent more than in 2022).

Operation Crossing the Strait has taken place between 15 June and 15 September every year since 1987, although in 2020 and 2021 it was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, it reached an all-time high in terms of traffic, which flowed smoothly and without any major incidents.

With regard to vehicle traffic in the different ports, Algeciras (Cádiz) registered the highest number of vehicles in transit, with a total of 239,321 (4.5 per cent more than in 2022), which represents 30.8 per cent of the total of OPE 2023. The port of Almeria, with 68,230 vehicles, was the second most used.

In addition to Algeciras and Almeria, the 34 ships that operated in OPE 2023 have also used the ports of Alicante, Ceuta, Malaga, Melilla, Motril (Granada), Tarifa (Cadiz) and Valencia.

The smooth running of this edition of Operation Crossing the Strait has been possible thanks to the extensive arrangements coordinated by the Directorate General of Civil Protection and Emergencies of the Ministry of Home Affairs, in which other bodies of the General State Administration have also participated, such as State Ports and the Directorate General of the Merchant Navy, the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda; the Directorate General of Public Health of the Ministry of Health, or the delegations and sub-delegations of the Government, as well as regional and local institutions where the ports of embarkation are located.

Non official translation