COMMISSIONING OF THE “”AL BOUGHAZ”” LIFEBOAT AT TANGER MED PORT COMPLEX

On May 22nd, the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, Mr. Mohamed Sadiki, presided over the commissioning ceremony of the new deep-sea lifeboat, named “Al Boughaz”, at Tanger Med Port Complex.

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Fouad Brini, Chairman of Tanger Med Group, Mr. Abdelkhalek Marzouki, Governor of the Fahs-Anjra province, and representatives of national rescue partners and elected officials.

The unit, 21 meters long and built by a Spanish shipyard for 25 million MAD, features considerable self-sufficiency and a vast operational range. It reinforces the national maritime search and rescue system at sea, offering increased response capacity in the Strait of Gibraltar, an area characterized by dense maritime traffic.

Assigned to Tanger Med Port Complex, this vessel is equipped to meet the specific needs of the region, with greater self-sufficiency at sea. It is part of a response system coordinated by the National Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Rabat), aiming to improve the responsiveness, efficiency, and rationalization of national resources.

This system, led by experts in search and rescue coordination within the context of a national, regional, and local organization, enables Morocco, as a coastal state, to meet its obligations in terms of rescue at sea, in accordance with national and international regulations in force.

The ceremony also saw the signing of a partnership agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests and Tanger Med Port Authority. The aim of the agreement is to support maritime rescue operations and ensure greater efficiency and speed in rescue operations in the Strait of Gibraltar region, where many commercial vessels and passengers pass through.