The fishing boat 'A Ali-03' was intercepted on Friday in El Castillo and moved to Gran Tarajal. The Tuineje Council requests its transfer due to the risk of a tragedy similar to that of 2018.
The Local Brigade of Immigration and Borders of the Puerto del Rosario Police Station has opened an investigation to clarify the circumstances surrounding the arrival of a Moroccan fishing boat on the coast of Fuerteventura last Friday. The vessel, identified as A Ali-03, was intercepted near El Castillo and subsequently moved to the Gran Tarajal dock, in the municipality of Tuineje.
According to sources from the investigation, officers are looking into whether the boat was stolen in El Aaiún, in Western Sahara, and what role the captain played during the crossing. The ship was flying a Spanish flag when it arrived on the island with around twenty immigrants of Maghreb origin on board.
The Tuineje Council has requested the Government Delegation to transfer the fishing boat to another port, fearing that a tragedy similar to that which occurred in February 2018 could be repeated, when a severe storm sank nine barges and pontoons at the same dock. On that occasion, there were diesel and other contaminant leaks that forced emergency measures to be activated and the collaboration of the Navy to be requested.
Both the local council and Ecopuertos Autonómicos de Canarias have reported that they did not receive information from the State regarding the situation of the fishing boat, which has fuel and other contaminating materials on board. The lack of communication has caused discontent among the residents of Gran Tarajal, who remember the environmental disaster of 2018.
The police investigation is in its initial phase. Officers have identified the 20 Moroccan citizens who were on the fishing boat and are in contact with the Royal Gendarmerie of Morocco to determine if there is a report of theft of the vessel. It is also being investigated whether the captain acted under coercion or voluntarily.
Until the National Police completes its proceedings and presents them to the on-duty Investigating Court, the fate of the boat cannot be decided. The court will be responsible for determining the verdict on the legality of the arrival and the situation of the immigrants.
The Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands confirmed in 2026 that the consignor company of the barges sunk in 2018 must pay 7.1 million euros in public expenses for the removal and damages caused in the port. That episode, which required the activation of emergency measures and the intervention of the Navy with the ship Tornado and the Diving Unit, marked a turning point in the management of port risks on the island.
The presence of the Moroccan fishing boat at the Gran Tarajal dock keeps local authorities on edge, fearing that a new accident could lead to an environmental disaster. Meanwhile, residents hope that the investigation clarifies the facts and that the boat is transferred to a safe location as soon as possible.
The police continue to gather evidence and take statements from those involved. More details about the origin of the journey and the intentions of the captain, who remains at the disposal of the judiciary, are expected to emerge in the coming days.
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