Cargo ships, charters and cruises: three types of ships with similar needs

An experience that is well worth enjoying when visiting the city of Ceuta is sitting on the banks of Playa Benítez - located right in front of the popular Peñón (large rock) - to witness the amount of ships that cross the historic Strait of Gibraltar.

Considered to be one of the world’s most important marine highways, the Strait is a transit point for the vast majority of ships that sail between Europe and America (or vice versa). This is a place with a unique historical background and with literary references in masterpieces by the likes of Homer’s The Odyssey.

Given its historical relevance, and since every day large cargo ships, cruisers and sailboats, privately owned or charter, sail the waters of the Strait, many types of vessels request port agency services in Ceuta, like those offered by José Salama y Cía. However, are there specific services for every type of ship? What characterizes each vessel when dealing with a "stopover"? What specific needs does every kind of ship have? 

Different clients versus similar needs

Whether it’s a cargo ship, a passenger ship or a small sailboat, when a vessel requests Salama’s services, they usually do it for very specific reasons. These services are similar in most cases and the following are the most important:

Operations with the authorities at destination

Any vessel that enters the port of Ceuta must file a series of documents that are often directly managed by the Salama team.

Whether they need a crew change (something common in cargo ships), or to spend the night in our port (a necessity for the ships that stopover in Ceuta), or for tourism (like the sailboats who choose Ceuta as their destination), Salama directly contacts the Maritime Authority, Port Authority or Civil Guard to obtain the necessary permits for them to dock at our port.

Technical operations

If it’s motor run or by sail, and whatever the route it covers, a vessel (any type) must carry fuel in its tank, as well as oil, a certain level and in good condition. What we call "bunkering" is not only one of Salama’s main services, but it is also one of the most demanded by the ships that choose our port.

Even though refuelling can be done at any enabled point in the city of Ceuta, Salama stands out for perfectly knowing about the type of vessel and the specific fuel it needs. This way, we guarantee the ship’s good health for the rest of its trip.

Water and provisions 

Another of Salama’s services that is applicable to any type of vessel is managing supplies. Sailing with enough drinking water and food for the whole offshore journey is very necessary, both for cargo ships and sailboats. This makes it one of the main agency services in the port of Ceuta.

Taking note of the needs identified by the crew and meeting the deadlines are the two key elements in this operation. As well as extensive experience, Salama includes an exclusive shipchandler department.