Attica Group Launches Morocco-Europe Ferry Service through AML

Athens-based Attica Group (Attica Holdings SA), a subsidiary of Marfin Investment Group, and BMCE Bank of Africa Group, have inked an agreement for the immediate operation of scheduled ferry services between Morocco and Europe.

The services are carried out through newly established Moroccan company Africa Morocco Links (AML) between the ports of Tanger Med in Morocco and Algeciras in Spain. The first service was set to start on June 17 with the Diagoras and a second ferry in the coming days. The companies announced that talks are underway for the launch of additional routes between Morocco and Europe, with annual traffic volumes estimated at around four million passengers, one million vehicles and 260,000 freight units.

Attica Group was selected due to it experience, know-how and operational excellence, as a strategic investor by BMCE Bank Of Africa Group, with the support of the Moroccan government following a selection process. Attica Group will hold a 49 percent participation in AML.

“We are delighted to collaborate with BMCE Bank Of Africa Group, one of the leading banking groups across Africa, in the newly-established operator AML, which we are confident will become very soon the leading ferry player linking Morocco and Africa to Europe,” said Spiros Paschalis, Attica Group CEO.

“Attica Group is honored by the trust vested in our Group by BMCE Bank Of Africa. On our side, we have no doubt that our extensive experience in the ferry industry, combined with the top-quality service that we offer to our customers, will lead to the upgrade of existing services in the market and to the development of Moroccan maritime personnel able to perform at the highest possible standards, achieving the operational excellence both BMCE Bank Of Africa and Attica Group seek to provide. Finally, we are confident that today’s agreement will mark a new promising start and strengthen the ties between our two countries, Morocco and Greece,” Mr Paschalis concluded.

Listed company Attica Group is the mother company of Superfast Ferries and Blue Star Ferries and with its fleet of 13 vessels serves over 40 destinations in Greece (Cyclades, Dodecanese, North-East Aegean and Crete) and Europe (Italy).