The progress of the implementation of the Tanger Ville port reconversion project reached, at the end of last February, 85% for the marina, 70% for the yachting port, and 85% for the new fishing port, affirmed the Chairman and CEO of the Tanger Ville Port Zone Development Company (SAPT), Mohamed Ouanaya.
"The progress of the implementation of the new marina, within the framework of this 1st project for the reconversion of a port site on a national scale, has reached 85%, while the infrastructure and building construction work for the new fishing port are 85% and 35% complete respectively," specified Mohamed Ouanaya in an interview granted to the MAP, noting that this project required a budget of more than 6 billion dirhams (MMDH).
The official made it known that the forecast date for the commissioning of the new fishing port is scheduled for the end of 2015, noting, furthermore, that the 1st phase of transforming the current fishing port into a marina has been 70% completed.
Regarding the cruise project, Mohamed Ouanaya stressed that the work on the 1st phase of extending the cruise quay, backed by the main jetty, was completed in November 2013, recalling the reception for the 1st time of two cruise ships 290 m and 294 m long in December 2013.
For the preparation of the site, the demolition of old fences and old buildings that will not be subject to reconversion was carried out, the opening of port spaces to the city and the demolition of the free zone premises in December 2014 after the transfer of their activities, he continued.
Concerning the restoration work on the wall, the official assured that the 1st tranche (Borj Elhajoui-Borj Dar El Baroud) was completed at the end of December 2013, while the work on the 2nd tranche (Borj Dar El Baroud-Borj Nâam) was launched at the end of 2014, noting that the restoration studies for the last tranche are currently being carried out.
Mohamed Ouanaya did not fail to emphasise the importance of this project, which aims to allow the city of Tanger to position itself as a flagship destination for cruise and yachting tourism on a Mediterranean scale, noting that this project aims to introduce new activities that create wealth and jobs, to ensure good integration of the port into the city and to guarantee development that respects the environment.
Regarding the port dimension, which required an investment of 2.18 MMDH, it concerns the cruise port which aims to reach 750,000 tourists in 2020, while the marina aims to provide the city of the Strait with the largest marina in the region with 1,300 berths, through the reconversion of the current fishing port and the development of a new marina to the East of the current port, he continued, noting that the Fast ferry consists of maintaining and upgrading the Tanger-Tarifa line, through which 1.4 million passengers pass, including 500,000 tourists.
The urban component is not left out, since the new Tanger Ville project offers public promenade spaces dedicated to visitors, namely the Bab El Marsa, Large, Presqu'île, Pinede and Mosque squares, as well as cultural facilities (congress palace and cinema multiplex), in addition to the creation of hotels with a capacity of 1,200 beds, i.e., 16% of Tanger's capacity, explained the official, noting that this dimension required a financial envelope of more than 4 MMDH.
This project also provides for the creation of a cable car, which should ensure better connection between the Medina, the cruise terminal, the marina and the modern city, with flows of 2,800 people per hour, indicated Mohamed Ouanaya, estimating that this project aims to provide the City of Tanger with an integrated tourism offer and to participate in improving the economic and cultural attractiveness of the Tanger-Tétouan region.
"The reconverted Tanger Ville port is intended to be a place of exchange, wealth creation and promotion of economic growth at the local and national levels," he said, estimating that this site should welcome more than 7 million visitors from the 1st year of its commissioning.
