International Cargo Seaport: Port of Algeciras

Port of Algeciras is the largest port in both Spain and the Mediterranean Sea. In 2010, the port was named the 7th busiest container port in Europe and 28th in the world. The huge international seaport is capable of managing heavy freight traffic cargo and all types of passengers.

About Port of Algeciras

Due to its geographical location, the Port of Algeciras plays an important role in overseas trading worldwide. Its name is derived from the city where the port is situated, in the Province of Cadiz.

The port lies at the intersection of the worlds’ main maritime routes, near the Strait of Gibraltar and East-West shipping routes, thus establishing Port of Algeciras’ position as one of the busiest in the world.

The History

According to archeological findings, the area of the Port of Gibraltar was inhabited by the Neanderthals during the Paleolithic era. The port has been occupied since. At the time, the port was utilized by the Phoenicians, and the Romans built Portus Albus in the location.

Following the Roman colony’s destruction by the German barbarians and Vandals, the Moors reconstructed the Port of Algeciras in 713 AD. It became the first city that Arabs founded in Spain. The port was also known as al Jazirah al Khadra (meaning the Green Island) and was taken back by Alfonso XI of Castille in 1344. Then in 1368, the Moors reclaimed and demolished it under Muhammed V of Granada’s command. The site was then abandoned after that.

During  the War of Spanish Succession, Anglo-Dutch soldiers took over the area, and the town was eventually refounded by Gibraltar refugees in 1704. Then in 1760, Charles II of Spain began the reconstruction of the Port of Algeciras. The port saw another threat of destruction in 1801 during the Battle of Algeciras Bay, where Spanish and French navies formed alliances against the British, putting the English victory to an end.

Fast forward a hundred years later, the port grew as a notorious landmark of the city, serving the importance in politics as the home of the Algeciras Conference in 1906. The Port experienced significant industrial growth in the era of the Franco dictatorship, luring a number of workers who had been unemployed during the border sealing between 1969 and 1982.

Volume of Transaction in Port of Algeciras

Becoming one of the largest and busiest ports in the world, it recorded a 107 million throughput and 4.8 million TEU in 2018, seeing a 59% rise in ten years. Today, the port plays an important role as a connector between the European Union and the North African seaboard. The port is currently undergoing development in infrastructure so that in the future, it will be able to serve over 22,000 TEU.

Interesting Facts

It has more than just a transportations hub. It has now transformed into an industrial center with fishing as its major economic activity. In recent years, the city has become gradually famous as a tourism destination.