Hundreds of travelers heading to Algeria experienced significant delays on the morning of December 13, 2025, at the port of Sète in southern France. The situation led to crowded conditions outside the port as passengers awaited updates and traffic flow was impacted.
The vessel operated by the Italian company GNV, scheduled to depart for Algeria at 6:00 AM, had its sailing canceled. Passengers, many of whom had traveled from various parts of France, were notified of the change late the previous night, around 1:00 AM, after numerous individuals had already arrived at the port.
According to accounts gathered by the local newspaper Midi Libre, some passengers had undertaken journeys of several hours from distant regions, including Alsace, northern France, and even from Belgium and England, to board this ferry. Many expressed frustration over the lack of clear and timely communication from the maritime company and the French port authorities.
Le manque de communication des autorités et de la compagnie
No official details were immediately provided regarding the precise reasons for the cancellation. GNV and the port authorities of Sète did not issue explanations for the last-minute delay, nor comment on any operational, technical, or safety considerations that may have led to the decision. Passengers, who had planned their trips for days, shared their dissatisfaction with the information gap.
Some travelers noted confusion, mentioning they had received messages from the company as late as 7:56 PM the previous evening, instructing them to arrive five hours early. The notification of a potential cancellation at 1:00 AM created an atmosphere of uncertainty and discontent.
Des milliers de passagers pour l’Algérie affectés par la situation
The situation led to congestion in the morning as passengers gathered at the port. Municipal police intervened to manage vehicle traffic in the area. By 9:00 AM, the status remained unchanged, with travelers still awaiting concrete information about the ship’s departure.
Some affected individuals reported being informed of the possible cancellation at 1:00 AM, despite having already completed long journeys from distant cities. These conflicting communications contributed to tensions among the waiting passengers.
Un précédent malheureux pour la compagnie GNV
This incident marks a notable service interruption for passengers of GNV. The Italian company, which has operated sailings between Sète and Algiers as well as Sète and Bejaïa since the previous summer, faced a challenging operational situation.
It is worth noting that the company’s sailings to Algeria are typically scheduled for daily morning departures. The disruptions at the port of Sète affected a considerable number of travelers, yet clear resolutions for the waiting passengers had not been communicated at the time.
The events of December 13, 2025, highlight communication challenges within the maritime transport sector. Such incidents can impact traveler confidence and port operations, which regularly serve a high volume of passengers traveling to Algeria. Those affected remained awaiting further information to determine the continuation of their journeys.
Original report sourced from ObservAlgérie.