Algeciras: A Port-City Reborn Three Times

Belén Landaluce
European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO)

This blog is based on the free online course (Re)Imagining Port Cities: Understanding Space, Society and Culture which I completed in January 2025. The course explored port cities from a multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural perspective, focusing on current and future challenges. As part of this course, I worked on a portfolio which analyses the port-city relationship through spaces, stakeholders, values, and challenges. 

There are numerous aspects which shape the port-city relation: constant flow of people (travellers, crew of the ships, local and regional companies, port employees, seafarers…), and the constant flow of goods passing by the port. Another relevant aspect is the fact of how port cities have established specific values; this is what can be considered as the port-city culture or the specific mindset established. This is a key aspect as it characterises the type of port-city relation in place, the different conditions and circumstances play a key role in shaping this relationship (Hein, 2024).

When thinking about the idea of a port city, there are diverse aspects that come to my mind, butall of these ideas can be summarised in three main aspects or dimensions. The first is the economics related to the activities carried out within the port and have a direct link or impact on the city. The second is the environment, the place where these activities take place is the port. Finally, the social aspect, which is related to the relationship between the port and the city. These three key aspects are presented in my personal idea of the concept port city. In general terms, these three dimensions should prevail in order to find a good balance and therefore an efficient functioning of a port-city relation. More precisely, looking at the case I selected of the port of Algeciras, it is difficult to analyse which dimension prevails. However it is a fact that the economic dimension plays a key role for the development/growth of the city, as the port is one of the most important ports for container traffic in Europe. This is not only because of the direct and free transhipment links that connect around 200 ports in 75 countries worldwide, but also the employment that generates and the wealth that brings to the city (Port Authority of Algeciras Bay, n.d.).

When looking at the Port of Algeciras, I would like to present the following mental map which helps to have a visual image of how the port is organised with different existing facilities within and surrounding the port 

Figure 1 - Mental map – Handmade map Port-city of Algeciras (Landaluce, 2024).
Figure 1. Mental map – Handmade map Port-city of Algeciras (Landaluce, 2024).

This is the mental map that comes to my mind when I imagine the port-city of Algeciras, where I grew and lived most of my life. In this sense, I have always envisioned it as a strategic location in front of Morocco, next to Gibraltar, and a key hub for Europe. 

We can see in the mental map that the port and the city are very close. In this respect, the city of Algeciras very much relies on the port due to its importance as the main economic engine as it generates employment and provides goods to the city and helps distribute the goods of the city to other countries.

This is a visual image of the bay, with the two terminals that operate in the port, Total Terminal International Algeciras (TTIA) and APM, which I personally know as I had the opportunity to visit them during my internships. In the drawing I also included in the area where the terminals are some ships which arrived to the port, the "big cranes" are discharging the containers from the ship and loading them into "smaller cranes" call shuttle carriers which will then either place the containers in the trucks or will await in the terminal. This drawing reflects the transhipment operations that take place in the port on a daily basis. In the left side of the drawing, I drew some industries which are close to the port area but not all of them are within it.

When looking at the different aspects analysed, there are different elements in the port which differ in terms of location, as some are on land (offices, dockers, or the cranes) and others on the sea (ships, containers or the crew, and workers of the ships). When I look at the port, my main focus is always the cranes due to the immense size. This is something which really gets my attention: the process of loading and unloading of containers done by such machines. Another aspect that gets my attention is the efficient connection, via road by trucks or via rail by trains of the port and these modes of transport when loading and unloading containers which will later be transported elsewhere. Furthermore, the yard area where the containers are kept is something that also impresses me. Also, there are other parts of the port cityscape which are less visible for me such as the warehouses and office buildings because the activities carried out in these facilities are not visible. Therefore, it is something that does not get my attention at first sight.

After looking at this mental map I would like to define this relationship with three key words which are: economic engine, strategic connectivity, and development. These three aspects are linked with the aspects I mentioned previously: economic, environment and social. Economics is linked to the economic engine due to the great importance that the port has for the city and vice versa. They complement each other, but it is important to mention that the port is the main factor for the city's growth and therefore development., I would dare to say that without it the city will not be able to stand up and survive. The environmental and social concepts can be linked to the strategic connectivity aspect which has a double sense. First due to the location of the port, as mentioned is the main entrance to Europe and also due to its proximity to Africa. Secondly, this word also refers to the connectivity and close relationship of the port and city as they help and support each other in terms of labour, goods and services. Lastly, the concept development is linked to the previous ones as when there is an evolution on the port (e.g.: through modernisation, expansion or other activities) it affects the city (e.g.: population growth and organisation of the city, or policy developments) and vice versa. This also touches upon social aspects (e.g.: job creation, congestion, changes and improvements of local services) and environmental aspects (e.g.: changes can lead to increased emissions, habitat disruption or water pollution therefore cities demand sustainable policies, or greener technologies to tackle these challenges). 

However, in order to analyse the current situation and state of the Port it is relevant to study the historical aspects that might have led to it. As mentioned in the title the Port City of Algeciras has been built three times. Therefore the evolution is marked by different cycles of construction, deconstruction and rebirth. In the timeline below you can see a summary of what I presented in this course. This timeline starts from prehistoric times and analyses the situation of the Port City nowadays, as a modern role and a key strategic maritime hub due to its location.

  1. Prehistoric and Ancient times. This period can be divided into three. The Prehistory which goes from early settlements by hunter gatherers. Its evidence has been found in different sites like the Palomas I cave). The Punic period which was dominated by Carteia considered at the time a vital stop point in the Carthaginian trade routes, overshadowing Algeciras. Lastly the Roman period where there were numerous sides discovered in the area which revealed the presence of these civilisations (El Estrecho Digital (2018) (Torremocha, 2020).
  2. The Islamic Period and Middle Ages. The first city founded by Arabs was Algeciras in 711 AD, in Arab was named as Al-Yazira; this was the year when Muslim troops from North Africa first crossed into the Iberian Peninsula, beginning the Islamic conquest of the current territories which nowadays are Spain and Portugal. The city of Algeciras also became the capital of Benimerines’ European territories in 1275. Furthermore, in 1344 the city was conquered by the Crown of Castile. However in 1379 it was retaken and destroyed by Nasrids to stop further expansion and control of the Christians (Wikipedia archives, 2008).
Figure 2 - Siege of Algeciras (Wikipedia archives, 2016).
Figure 2. Siege of Algeciras (Wikipedia archives, 2016).
Figure 3 – Bay of Algeciras historical picture (Wikipedia archives, 2016). 
Figure 3. Bay of Algeciras historical picture (Wikipedia archives, 2016). 
  1. Modern and Contemporary Periods: In 1704 it was when the Anglo-Dutch seizure of Gibraltar took place, at the time Became the capital of Benimerines’ European territories in 1275. Later in the 19th century Algeciras played an important role contributing and helping the anti-Napoleonic resistance, during the famous Battle of Bailén. Later during the Spanish Civil War in 1936 the city was used as a key point for disembarkation of the rebel troops coming from North Africa. From 1966 until 2024 the Port city was declared as a Zone of Preferential Industrial Location. Several development plans were in the process which will lead to the shift of the city into a major industrial and logistics centre (El Estrecho Digital (2018).
  2. Origins of the “Port”: During the last timeline mentioned, 1966-2024 it is important to mention that the port was officially founded in 1894 and since this year it has been continuously evolving into one of Europe’s busiest ports, handling commercial, fishing, and passenger traffic.
  3. Current and Future evolution: In 2024 several expansion plans started in the area near one of the terminals of the port Total Terminal International Algeciras (TTI-A). Later, Phase B of Isla Verde Exterior involves 45 hectares of land reclamation, 650 meters of new quays, and expanded breakwaters (Algeciras Port Community - Comport) (n.d).
Figure 4. Evolution from the port of Algeciras from 1936 to 2012 (Wikipedia, n.d.)
Figure 4. Evolution from the port of Algeciras from 1936 to 2012 (Wikipedia, n.d.)

Despite the port city’s difficult history undergoing three major destructions and rebirths, it has turned out playing a powerful and modern role. When compared to other historic European ports such as Dubrovnik (7th century AD) or Venice (5th to 6th century AD), the port city of Algeciras can be considered as relatively younger. Officially founded in 1894, it has rapidly evolved and grown.

Figure 5 – Strait of Gibraltar aerial picture (Empresaexterior, 2024).
Figure 5: Strait of Gibraltar aerial picture (Empresaexterior, 2024).

The mental map of Algeciras has been presented from a personal perspective, being my home city, it highlights the strong relationship and deep interconnectedness between the port and the city. The visual representation reflects how the port is not only considered as a physical infrastructure but is more than that, it is the economic engine, and therefore heart as well as strategic anchor of Algeciras. The proximity between the urban areas and the port shows the mutual dependence from one another: the port sustains the city through employment, global connectivity and trade, while the city supports the port with services, labour, as well as urban infrastructure. Some relevant themes such as growth, development and connection define the port-city relationship. Algeciras’ history of destruction and renewal is an example of a resilient city which has been shaped by its port and therefore its important role in global trade.  

Acknowledgments

This blog post has been written in the context of discussions in the LDE PortCityFutures research community. It reflects the evolving thoughts of the authors and expresses the discussions between researchers on the socio-economic, spatial and cultural questions surrounding port city relationships. This blog was edited by the PortCityFutures editorial team:  Wenjun Feng, and Eliane Schmid.

References