COVID-19 - Morocco Master Thread

[Tim Cullis]

Originally Posted by TheWarden

Lots of reports that people aren't sticking to guide lines from else where in the country and some souks have been reopened. New spikes in the north traced to factories and family gatherings are also a concern.

Spikes are what is upsetting the apple cart.

Towards the end of April, 10% of all the deaths in Morocco were people of Jewish heritage (whereas as a percentage of the population they are minute). It was down to a wedding near Agadir after which 15 people died.

Draa-Tifilalet region was very low numbers until another spike happened in Ouarzazate prison where it is alleged that the prison director travelled to Marrakech to visit his sister for three days, came back and infected firstly 62 staff, who in turn infected prisoners, for a total of 303 cases.

[Two wheels good]

Originally Posted by donpablohahn

I'm an American stuck in Fes with my motorcycle.

...
2) Anyone know someone in Casablanca, Fes, or Marrakesh who can help me store the motorcycle indefinitely? I'd prefer not to leave it with some random guy on the street with a chair. No idea when I can return and ferry to Spain.

If Chris's rental company contact doesn't work out as an option...
It used to be the case that vehicles could be stored at a Douanes official storage sheds. Since then storage regulations have been relaxed to allow private locations but maybe the Douanes storage option is still available.
Most cities have a Douanes office and storage. Expect to be charged a daily fee.
(I posted a link in the past. I'll see if I can find it. ... ét voilà! Douanes locations )

[Tim Cullis]

The British Embassy is attempting to coordinate non-freight vehicle travel (i.e. motorhomes, 4x4s, cars) as a one-off exercise on a ferry from Tanger Med to Algeciras on Thursday 14 May at 1500 hrs.

The timing seems unrealistically tight as travel documents have to be obtained first, but if you have not already been contacted by the British Embassy it might be worthwhile speaking to them.

[TheWarden]

heard rumours of the same but nothing from the Embassy and they phoned yesterday about getting permission for people to move campsites.

Nothing formal from anywhere, UK van arrived here last night and left this morning saying they are on a ferry at 13:00 tomorrow but otherwise what we've heard is via a friend of a friend. It'll be interesting to see if they run seeing as the whole keeping ferries running but not letting people leave is ridiculous.

[TheWarden]

Another unconfirmed bit of info circulating today

"If there's any Brits still in Morocco that are keen to get home, or at least start the journey.
I’ve just had a phone call today from Ahad at the Embassy, the Uk are apparently chartering a ferry from Tangier Med to Algeciras, to save going to Sète in France.
There was no trace of me on the U.K. list despite registering previously.
The Ferry is on the 18th and they’re charging £560 for a campervan and two people."

To put in context price wise, GNV ferry to Sete, a 43hour crossing, is 450, and normal price is 90euro each way to Algerciras.

[levelo]

What a mess.
The UK Embassy folks can't even get their shit together !
Keep us posted. I'd be curious to know whether that Tanger-Algesiras ferry is going to run or not. You must have heard that Spain will quarantine any foreigner coming in until May 25th, at least...
Good luck.

[TheWarden]

Something doesn't sit right with this too me.

German overlanders and campervan people posting tomorrows ferry has already been changed to the 18th. The 2nd post with the price included an email address that is @foreignoffice.gov.uk not the normal @fco.gov.uk.

Others sayin that UK Embassy is chartering a whole ferry, yet the ferry's are running for freight so why charter when they could just arrange for people to use an existing ferry.

I hope its all legitimate for those planning to catch it.

[mossproof]

Certainly smells fishy! Is there a link to pay for tickets in the email? Account at the National Bank of Nigeria???

[markharf]

Googling foreignoffice.gov.uk returns a "can't find that server" response. I'd assume the link is a redirect to people whose interests don't align with yours.

[Tim Cullis]

The latest check-in time for the ferry on Thursday 14 May (in my post #199 above) was 1300, I understood the departure was 1500. The information came in an email from the British Embassy that arrived just before midnight yesterday, saying,

"Thanks for contacting the British Embassy to register your details and to express your intention to depart Morocco on the next available ferry departure from Tangier Med Port. I wish to inform you that we have now received approval from the Moroccan authorities to allow you to move from your current location to Tangier Med Port. You are now instructed to visit the Municipality (wilaya) of your current location and request to get the authorisation to travel document. It is very important that you are present at the office at 0930 in the morning and take along with your passport. If you encounter any issues or problems, please contact Xxxxx or send a message to +212xxxxxxxxx leaving your name and your current location. Once you have collected your permission to travel document, you MUST leave immediately and travel to the Tangier Med Port. You should aim to be at Tangier Med Port by Thursday 14th May and no later than 1300 hours."

You will note that with typical efficiency, the message didn't say where the ferry was going to !!

However, yes, it was supposed to be going to Algeciras, but in any case it has now been cancelled due to forecasts of high winds and thunderstorms in the Strait of Gibraltar for Thursday.

Why was it organised with such short notice? It could be because from Friday morning, Spain is introducing mandatory 14-day quarantine for all international arrivals, see https://english.elpais.com/society/2...travelers.html

So yes, I have also heard the ferry will now be on Monday 18, but none of the people I am in touch with (who were notified by the Embassy as above) have been told about this from the British Embassy, it's all come from German motorhomers. But will it still run given the new Spanish quarantine rules?

On another subject, the GNV ferry from Tanger to Sète on the 19th May has been rescheduled for 26th. Any registrations for 19th remain valid for 26th.

In the meantime, the twitter and facebook feeds for the British Ambassador and UKinMorocco are primarily focused on how well the staff are doing running marathons in their gardens for charity. No useful information anywhere for people stranded in Morocco.

There will be lessons to be learnt from how the embassy has reacted during this period. From friends in Zagora comparing the efforts of the staff of various embassies , "The running order of competence is the German embassy way in front. The French gasping to finish, and the Dutch and British struggling to get out of the starting gates. "

[TheWarden]

Just goes to show how conflicting the information is

A large German motor home group has been saying how bad the German embassy has performed, compared to the UK embassy, the French are saying the germans have performed the best etc etc.

There are 17 brits here, all registered with the embassy, no one received any emails and I've been having regular phone calls from them over the last fortnight.

Non of the phone calls or emails from the embassy we have received recently made any mention of registering for a Algeciras ferry, it was all for yesterdays ferry to Sete and the one on the 19th or if we wanting permission to move campsites. 2 vans from here caught yesterdays ferry as planned although slightly late leaving.

4 of the other EU vans here are on the GNV ferry on the 26th, but its going to Genoa, maybe theres 2 sailings that day, hard to tell.

My earlier post with the quoted text is from a Brit campervanner who says the info came from the Embassy, even though it also has a suspicious email attached to the post. The same group has people reporting they have been told they cannot get the next Sete ferry despite holding valid tickets.

I have friends in Mhamid who have medical reasons for moving some where cooler, its taken several days to get permission to move with lots of back of forth to the Governor, it seems without a ferry ticket getting the exceptional movement permit issued is not as easy as one would hope. They finally got permission today.

[TheWarden]

adding to the confusion, just has a call from the Embassy people.

Ferry 9am Monday, we are to try and get authorisation near Agadir somewhere tomorrow and then get tickets for the ferry if we want it. I had booked with GNV following info last week from the Embassy

God knows why they can't make this simple

[Tim Cullis]

Originally Posted by TheWarden

4 of the other EU vans here are on the GNV ferry on the 26th, but it's going to Genoa, maybe theres 2 sailings that day, hard to tell.

The news of the rescheduled sailing came from Thierry Vallet, French Consul General in Tanger, who wrote, "La ferry Tanger-Sète, initialement prévu le 19, partira finalement le 26 mai. Inutile de se réinscrire. Les inscriptions pour le 19 restent valables pour le 26."

[levelo]

Originally Posted by TheWarden

adding to the confusion, just has a call from the Embassy people.

Ferry 9am Monday, we are to try and get authorisation near Agadir somewhere tomorrow and then get tickets for the ferry if we want it. I had booked with GNV following info last week from the Embassy

God knows why they can't make this simple

Very confusing indeed.
Was it fake news or what ?
I know of quite a few stranded French tourists who are still hoping that the regular Tanger-Algeciras crossings will resume soon...
I am trying to persuade them to make the next May 26 Tanger-Sète one.

[Tim Cullis]

Well the Tanger-Algeciras crossing is apparently going to take place Monday 9am.

John from Camping Palmeraie d'Amerzou (Zagora) was allowed to leave for Moulay Bousselham. He seems to be going for the Monday boat and writes, "everytime we have tried to get off the motorway to get food we have been sent back. Now at services at Asilah and just stopping where we can until Sunday. Trying to suggest to the Embassy (if anyone has any influence) that we cannot leave here at 5am for Tanger Med. Why not put the boat back until the afternoon allowing those from Moulay and further to arrive? OR reopen the overspill place at Ksar el Sguir for everyone to collect for Monday morning. No facilities but extensive parking.. Simples.

I presume (dangerous) that they have taken into account the Spanish quarantine, do you think travelling through Spain in a motorhome can be counted as self isolation?"

Asilah is only about 90 minutes in a motorhome to Tanger Med, so a good position to be in.