Baleària announces the construction of two 100% electric zero-emission fast ferries to operate the first green corridor between Spain and Morocco

Esto es un subtítulo

• The company was awarded the tender by the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras, which prioritised sustainability and innovation for the operation of this route over the next 15 years
• The public-private project includes the construction of two sister ships at the Armon shipyard, as well as the electrification of the ports and the installation of battery charging systems

 

Baleària today unveiled at Fitur the first green corridor between Spain and Morocco, which will be operated by two 100% electric, zero-emission fast ferries . The shipping company will connect the cities of Tarifa and Tangier with these two sister ships. “This is a pioneering, technologically advanced public-private project that will allow us, for the first time, to complete the entire crossing using only electric power and therefore with zero emissions,” explained Baleària’s chairman, Adolfo Utor. Last December, Baleària was awarded the tender by the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA) to operate the Tarifa–Tangier Ville route for the next 15 years. The APBA prioritised technical and environmental criteria when awarding the first intercontinental green route. “The Port Authority laid the foundations for this project, which is aligned with our values of innovation and sustainability. We are taking on the challenge of turning the Tarifa–Tangier Ville route into an international benchmark for mobility, modernity and sustainability,” Utor said.

 

The presentation of the most sustainable connection between Europe and Africa brought together around 300 people, with strong institutional representation including the Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, José Antonio Santano; the Regional Minister for Tourism and External Andalusia of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Arturo Bernal; the President of the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras, Gerardo Landaluce; and the ⁠Moroccan Ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, among others.
 

These two sister catamarans will be built at the Armon shipyard in Gijón over the next two and a half years. Each vessel will have 16 MW of electric power, supplied by four battery-powered electric propulsion units. Their 13,824 kWh capacity will enable them to complete the entire 18-mile crossing under electric propulsion and with zero emissions. “These will be fully decarbonised journeys that, from 2027, will already meet the targets set for 2050,” Utor said. He added that electric propulsion not only avoids emissions but also completely eliminates noise and vibrations. Each vessel will also be equipped with four diesel-powered backup generators, with a total capacity of 11,200 kW, for contingencies.

 

The batteries of the fast ferries will need to be fully recharged during the one-hour call at each port. To achieve this, each port will be fitted with an 8 MWh gross-capacity battery system, supplementing the shore-side electricity supply (5 MW in Tarifa and 8 MW in Tangier). Charging will be carried out by two innovative autonomous robotic arms installed at each port, which will connect to the vessel through its OPS (Onshore Power System) connection. “This new system will allow us to recharge the batteries required for the route in just 40 minutes,” Utor said. Across the onboard and shore-side installations, total gross battery capacity will be 39 MWh (equivalent to around 765 electric cars).

A pioneering public-private project

Utor stressed that this is “a public-private project involving a Spanish shipping company, shipyard and financier, with the participation of leading national and international engineering and energy companies such as Cotenaval, Endesa, Amendis and Incat Crowther.” For Baleària’s chairman, it will be an essential piece of infrastructure, which he described as “a green umbilical cord linking two countries with close historical, cultural, economic and commercial ties.” Utor also highlighted the company’s intention to “turn the Tarifa–Tangier Ville route into a magnet for talent, a source of development opportunities and a local driver of the economy and employment.”

The Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, José Antonio Santano, recalled that “decarbonising transport is one of the Ministry’s priorities.” In this context, he recognised “Baleària’s commitment to sustainability and the major effort it has made to drive the decarbonisation of its fleet, as well as its commitment to innovation.”

⁠The Moroccan Ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, also spoke at the event and thanked Baleària for its commitment to her country: “This is an innovative, sustainable and cutting-edge project that will further strengthen connections between Morocco and Spain and reinforce the two countries’ joint project to host the 2030 World Cup.”

Arturo Bernal, the Regional Minister for Tourism and External Andalusia of the Regional Government of Andalusia, welcomed the fact that the region is once again pioneering sustainability. With passenger numbers forecast to reach four million, Bernal praised the commitment of Baleària and the Port Authority: “Projects like this consolidate the global recognition of the sustainability of our tourism industry,” he said. “The figures from the best tourism year in Andalusia’s history encourage us to continue working on the tourism of tomorrow,” he concluded.

“At the APBA, we want to drive the energy transition and facilitate strategic projects such as this one,” said Gerardo Landaluce, President of the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras. Landaluce highlighted “a firm commitment to innovation and environmental protection through the electrification of the quays,” which will involve an investment of €62 million in OPS (Onshore Power Supply) projects in Tarifa and Algeciras. He also called for urgent improvements to road access to the Port of Tarifa.

 

Design and technical specifications

The design of Baleària’s vessels is similar to that of its two fast ferries natural gas-powered Eleanor Roosevelt y Margarita Salas (also built by Armon), but optimised for the ports of Tarifa and Tangier Ville. They will have a beam of 25 metres, capacity for 804 passengers and 225 cars, and a top speed of 26 knots. In addition to spacious, bright interiors equipped with a wide range of services, passenger comfort will also be ensured by a T-Foil system that reduces vertical movement. The catamarans will also offer excellent manoeuvrability thanks to bridge wings, two bow thrusters and four rudders. They will also feature two high-capacity stern ramps to optimise port operations and manoeuvres.

Eco-efficient fleet

Baleària’s fleet strategy is based on eco-efficient, smart vessels, and the company is working on projects involving the energy sources of the future as it pursues its goal of zero emissions by 2050. The shipping company has a fleet of 11 gas-powered vessels and is a pioneer in the use of electric power: since 2023, its fleet has included two electrically propelled vessels, the Cap de Barbaria (Spain’s first ferry for passengers and cargo to operate with zero emissions when approaching and while in port) and the Rusadir (a cruise ferry equipped with an electric propulsion system powered by dual-fuel natural gas engines).