Baleària will carry out the launch of the first of the two fast ferries with 100% electric propulsion that it is building for the maritime connection between Tarifa and Tangier on October 23. The catamaran is currently at the Armón Shipyards in Gijón and is expected to enter service during the summer of 2027.
The vessel, 87 meters long, is part of the project promoted by the shipping company to establish an emission-free maritime connection during navigation between both shores of the Strait of Gibraltar. The initiative includes the construction of two electric catamarans and the electrification of the port facilities in Tarifa and Tangier City, with a total investment exceeding 200 million euros.
The president of Baleària, Adolfo Utor, has noted that this construction “represents a milestone in the company's roadmap towards decarbonization.” He indicated that the two fast ferries comprise “a top-level technological project that positions Baleària at the forefront of the energy transition of maritime transport in Europe,” as part of the company's strategy to reduce its emissions.
The construction of the first unit is currently ongoing with the aluminum structure in a very advanced phase. The work schedule includes completing this structure and continuing with the painting of the hull while tasks related to the installation of pipes, electrical wiring, and the assembly of technical equipment are developed.
Among the systems that will be incorporated into the catamaran are the intelligent control system and the batteries intended for storing the energy necessary to carry out the crossing. At the same time, the adaptation of the interior spaces will be completed, and the various auxiliary systems will be progressively put into operation.
Once these phases are completed, the construction program includes conducting tests at the dock and subsequently sea trials, aimed at checking the operation and safety of the vessel before its final delivery.
The operation scheduled for October 23 also has a particularity arising from the construction process of the two units. Both catamarans are being manufactured simultaneously in a dry dock whose capacity allows for only one and a half vessels.
The Director of New Fleet Projects at Baleària, Pablo García, has explained that this circumstance requires a specific maneuver during the launch. “The simultaneous construction in the same dock requires securing and floating the already constructed section of the second ship while its twin,” he stated.
Once the first fast ferry has been extracted from the dock, the area will be emptied again to continue the construction of the second unit on land. According to the schedule communicated by the shipping company, this second catamaran is expected to later join the same connection.
The two vessels will be equipped with OPS systems and next-generation batteries sized to fully cover the 18 nautical miles that separate Tarifa and Tangier City with electric propulsion.
According to Baleària's project, navigation will be able to be carried out without emissions during the crossing and without the noise and vibrations associated with the operation of conventional engines.
The port infrastructure constitutes the other part of the project. Both Tarifa and Tangier City will have specific facilities to supply electricity to the catamarans during their stops.
The connection of the ships to the electrical network will be made through two fully automated robotic arms. The system will have the capacity to provide up to 16 MW of electrical power and will allow the batteries to be charged in approximately 40 minutes.
The entry into service of the two catamarans will allow the development of the planned electrical connection between Europe and Africa through the Strait of Gibraltar, with the Tarifa-Tangier route as the scenario for this new maritime transport system.