For his extensive professional career in maritime and port matters, José Luis Almazán Gárate, Senior Advisor of Ocean Capital Partners, was admitted as a Full Academician of the Royal Academy of the Sea. The official act, which took place on June 16, at the Spanish Engineering Institutewas presided over by the president of this organization, Mr. Carlos Cremades Carceller and by the Academicians Mr. Juan Díaz Cano and Mr. José Luis López Sors.
After the reading of his speech "The Strait of Gibraltar, Communicating Two Seas and Two Continents", the Professor, Doctor in Civil Engineering and Bachelor in Economics and Business Administration, took possession of his appointment. At the event he expressed his pleasure at his appointment. "It is an enormous honor and a great satisfaction after a professional life dedicated to the study of the sea and the coast," said José Luis Almazán.
The maritime expert exalted his commitment to a discussion forum for the development of the sector and diversity in Spain. "While in other countries a Ministry of the Sea is being created, as in Portugal, or there is talk in Italy and France of Secretaries of State for the Sea, in our country the competences are very much divided up between the Secretariat of Tourismthe Coastal Directorate of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, State Ports dependent of the former Ministry of Developmentthe Civil Guard of the Sea, from Ministry of Defense and the Customs Agency from Ministry of Finance, among other State agencies, in addition to the corresponding agencies of the respective Autonomous Communities with a coastline. This speaks of an intrinsic plurality in a country where maritime interests are fundamental because it is located on a peninsula".he said.
The Morocco-Spain connectivity project still on track
His acceptance speech, which focused on maritime progress, was answered by the president of the Liga Naval, Academician Juan Díaz Cano. José Luis Almazán presented the fundamental and ideal pillars for the commercial impulse in the Strait of Gibraltar.. He also emphasized connectivity and the need for the development of the sub-Saharan community, currently affected by the lack of opportunities. This has had as an immediate consequence the increasing displacement of its population to Europe. He also emphasized the age-old desire that still remains of visionaries who dream of building a fixed link between the two continents.
The relationship between Morocco and Spain and the future idea of building a bridge or a connectivity tunnel was another of the main topics. On this issue, José Luis Almazán stressed the importance of the future development of two transportation axes. The first, through North Africa, passing through Jerusalem, Cairo, Algiers and Tangier. And a second axis developed along the west coast of the African continent, from Dakar south to Tangier.
For the new academic, "the expected forthcoming economic, social and political development of sub-Saharan Africa will produce an explosion of traffic in the Strait of Gibraltar. It will require the development of an African road network and the corresponding logistical support facilities. This traffic will would be incompatible with the growing East-West maritime traffic and will therefore force, in the future, the construction of a submarine railway tunnel and probably also of an eye-catching bridge".he said.
A continuing family tradition
José Luis Almazán Gárate has been a professor at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, currently at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos. Polytechnic University of Madrid. In this institution he created and was Director of the Maritime and Port Engineering Research Group. His trajectory and commitment to the maritime sector goes back to an old family background. His great-uncle, José Luis Gárate, was Director of the Nautical School of Bilbao. In addition, his grandfather, Aurelio Gárate, commanded the fleet of the then Compañía Tabacalera de España. From there he managed the control of smuggling in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar. Currently, his family, made up of his wife and children, is also closely linked to the port sector, through Ocean Capital Partners, a leading company in consulting, management and investment in port matters.
