Launch of first vessel on 23 October
Baleària will remove from dry dock on 23 October the first of two electric catamarans it is building at Astilleros Armón in Gijón to cover the crossing between Tarifa and Tangier. The 87-metre vessel is scheduled to enter service from summer 2027, whilst the second twin catamaran could begin operating by the end of next year, thus initiating the first emissions-free maritime corridor between Europe and Africa.
A project worth over 200 million euros
The overall strategic project, which includes the construction of both fast ferries and the electrification of the ports of Tarifa and Tangier City, exceeds 200 million euros in cost. The two vessels will be able to cover the entire 18 nautical miles separating both ports using only electric propulsion, generating no emissions, noise or vibrations. Recharging will be carried out by automated robotic arms with a power of up to 16 megawatts, which will allow the process to be completed in 40 minutes.
At the forefront of naval decarbonisation
Baleària's president, Adolfo Utor, valued the scope of this construction for the company's environmental strategy: «this construction represents a milestone in the company's roadmap towards decarbonisation». Utor also emphasised the technological dimension of the initiative, stating that «these two fast ferries materialise a top-level technological project that places Baleària at the forefront of the energy transition in maritime transport in Europe».
A dry dock shared by both vessels
Baleària's Fleet New Projects director, Pablo García, explained the technical particularity of building both vessels in the same facility: «simultaneous construction in the same dock requires sealing and floating the already constructed section of the second vessel at the same time as its twin». García also detailed the next steps once the first catamaran is removed: «once the first fast ferry is extracted, the dock will be emptied again to finish the second catamaran in dry conditions».
