Baleària will start operating a Tarifa-Tangier Ville crossing on May 8 with the ferry Avemar Dos, which in recent weeks has carried out berthing tests in both the Spanish and Moroccan ports
For a few weeks, the shipping company has already had tickets on sale for this new route, the fourth between Spain and Morocco. Baleària will initially carry out four daily services from each port, which will increase progressively as the summer season progresses, with departures from early in the morning until night.
"The start of operations between Tarifa and Tangier Ville is a key achievement to consolidate our position in Morocco, with which we are very satisfied. Customers will be able to enjoy our service based on quality, reliability and comfort," said Baleària CEO Georges Bassoul.
Baleària will start operating on this one-hour crossing with the Avemar Dos ferry and will later incorporate a second ferry.
"Both have been completely renovated to offer greater comfort and quality to passengers, who have services such as a bar-cafeteria, children's area, accommodation for pets and gift shop, among others," said Baleària.
For this new route, Baleària will also build two electric catamaran ferries at Armon Shipyards in Gijón, which are expected to be operational in 2027.
Baleària said each vessel would have total electrical power of 16 MW, thanks to four battery-powered electric thrusters, whose capacity of 11,500 kWh will allow them to make the entire crossing of 29 kilometres (18 miles) with electric propulsion and without local emissions.
Each ship will also have four diesel combustion support generators, with a total capacity of 11,200 kW, for possible contingencies.
The batteries of the fast ferries must be fully recharged during the one-hour stopover in each of the ports. To this end, batteries of eight MWh gross each will be installed in both ports, which will be added to the electricity supply on land.
Loading will be carried out through two autonomous robotic arms installed in each port, which will be connected to the ship through the OPS connection.