Spain has tightened its naval patrol procedures around Ceuta and Melilla, allowing its Navy to respond more quickly to Moroccan vessels entering nearby waters without waiting for higher-level authorisation, according to Spanish media reports.
The change marks a shift in how Spain monitors maritime activity around the two Spanish-administered territories on the North African coast. Previously, the Navy monitored Moroccan vessels through its Maritime Action Operations and Surveillance Centre (COVAM). Under the revised approach, Spanish patrol ships are also sent out to meet and follow vessels when necessary.
The move follows heightened tensions in late July, when a large influx of migrants reached Ceuta and Moroccan naval activity in the surrounding waters drew increased attention from Spanish authorities.
The issue centres on the legal principle of “innocent passage”, which allows foreign ships to travel through another country’s territorial sea, provided their passage complies with international law and does not threaten the coastal state’s peace, security or other protected interests. The principle is set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and Morocco has invoked it to justify the movement of its vessels through waters near the Spanish territories.
According to a military source cited by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo on 18 October, Spain’s previous approach focused on monitoring such movements rather than immediately sending ships to intervene. The new protocol introduces a more active maritime presence. As the source put it, Spanish forces are now more alert and no longer wait for vessels to enter the area before taking action.
Spanish authorities have also reported a decline in activity by Moroccan-flagged vessels. According to information attributed to Spain’s Interior Ministry, the Civil Guard and the Navy, no innocent passage incidents were recorded during a royal visit to the territories or in the days that followed.
Spain has deployed additional patrol assets to strengthen its presence in the area. The patrol vessel Atalaya, part of the Navy’s Maritime Action Force, has been sent to Ceuta. Based in Ferrol in northwestern Spain, the vessel is tasked with protecting Spanish maritime interests, identifying unusual activity and supporting compliance with international law. It has a crew of 48 and is equipped with four machine guns and a cannon.
In Melilla, the Navy has deployed the patrol vessel Isla de Leon, which has a crew of 10 and carries a Browning machine gun. The vessel also operates around Ceuta and Perejil Island, but its current focus is Melilla amid heightened tensions with Morocco.
The deployments follow a reported incident involving the Moroccan warship Mohammed VI. In an article published on 12 October, El Pais reported that the vessel entered waters claimed by Spain during the mass crossing at the Ceuta land border in late July. Spain’s Defence Ministry subsequently sent two additional patrol vessels from Rota, while the country’s Chief of the Defence Staff contacted Moroccan authorities to demand an end to the incursion.
The revised patrol procedures are intended to strengthen Spain’s ability to monitor and respond to maritime movements without abandoning diplomatic relations with Rabat. According to El Mundo, the change is not primarily about improving Spain’s ability to detect vessels, as existing surveillance systems were already in place. Instead, it gives Spanish forces a more direct role in responding to activity they consider to require closer attention.
Spanish patrol vessels can now shadow Moroccan ships more actively, providing a visible military presence intended to discourage actions that Madrid considers potentially threatening. However, the distinction between lawful innocent passage and conduct that could endanger Spain’s security or challenge its sovereignty remains central to the approach.
The adjustment reflects Spain’s effort to maintain control over maritime security around Ceuta and Melilla while operating within the framework of international maritime law. How the revised procedures will affect future encounters with Moroccan vessels will depend on the nature of those movements and how both countries handle any further incidents.
