Neutral shipping in Axis French ports?

[driftwood]

Were ports in German-occupied France and Vichy France opened to neutral shipping from places like Spain, Portugal, and Ireland during the war? I know the Brits had patrols and the NaviCert system to try and stop neutral trading with the Axis, but I'm still curious if any neutral vessels were able to get through and if the Germans/Vichy allowed them in. If so, I'd also like to know what sorts of goods were being moved in and out of Occupied and Vichy France by neutral ships.

[Ironmachine]

In the case of Spain, yes, Spanish ships sailed to and from German-occupied ports in France, though in many cases they were Spanish-flagged ships from Spanish companies owned by the Germans.

[driftwood]

In the case of Spain, yes, Spanish ships sailed to and from German-occupied ports in France, though in many cases they were Spanish-flagged ships from Spanish companies owned by the Germans.

What sort of cargo were they moving? And did they have any run-ins with the Allies over this?

[Ironmachine]

AFAIK, they moved mostly mineral ores and food. And yes, there were a number of Spanish ships sunk by the Allies (also by the Germans, by the way), and not only in French waters.

[driftwood]

AFAIK, they moved mostly mineral ores and food. And yes, there were a number of Spanish ships sunk by the Allies (also by the Germans, by the way), and not only in French waters.

Thanks. Were there particular French ports that saw the majority of this Spanish maritime traffic, or was it fairly spread out?

[Ironmachine]

Sorry, can't answer with that level of detail.