Africa Morocco Links (AML) to be Led by Former Comarit Executive

Encouraged by market possibilities and low fuel prices, the alliance between Moroccan banking and the Greek group Attica Group, gathered around a new shipping company called Africa Morocco Links (AML), is preparing to launch the Tangier Med-Algeciras route on June 15, initially served by the ferry “Diágoras”.

At the helm of the company is a former executive of Comarit, one of the shipping companies that went bankrupt a few years ago, leaving several of its ships abandoned in the port of Algeciras. According to the Moroccan digital outlet yabiladi.com, the launch of the new shipping company has generated excitement among the merchant sailors of the country, who see new job prospects, albeit with nuances.

The management is handled by a company called Agecomar, owned by a Spaniard and the new manager of AML, which acts as a shipping agency similar to those that also exist in Spain and other countries. The outsourcing of this service has not been well received by Moroccan sailors, while the authorities remain silent. The conjunction consists of the banking sector backing the project, some Greek shipowners providing the vessels, the AML company as the visible face, and an external agency supplying cheap crew members.

The ferry “Diágoras” arrived today at the port of Tangier Med. The ship has a capacity for 1,465 passengers and 400 cars. It was built in Japan and entered service in 1990. Since 2001, it has been sailing under the Greek flag. Africa Morocco Links (AML) has a second license, and although the ferry “El Venizelos” was initially discussed, Spanish authorities have reportedly vetoed it due to operational difficulties it could pose.

Photo: det (shipspotting.com)