Balearia to introduce electric ferries on Tarifa-Tangier Ville route

Spanish transport company Baleària will introduce two new all-electric fast ferries into service on a proposed green transport corridor between Spain and Morocco.

Baleària will operate the new catamaran ferries on the route between the Spanish municipality of Tarifa and Tangier in Morocco in fulfilment of a 15-year concession awarded last December by the Bay of Algeciras Port Authority.

The ferries will be built by Armon Shipyard of Spain over a period of 32 months. Upon completion, each vessel will have a total installed power of 16 MW, which is sufficient for sailing on a 29-kilometre, one-way journey between Tarifa and Tangier without generating emissions. Charging of the onboard batteries at either of the two stops can be completed in as little as 40 minutes.

The ferries will also be fitted with diesel generators, which will serve mainly as backup.

Baleària said the new ferries will be similar in layout to the company's earlier vessels Eleanor Roosevelt and Margarita Salas but will be optimised for the ports of Tarifa and Tangier Ville. Each will have capacity for 804 passengers and 225 cars, a stern loading ramp, and a maximum speed of 26 knots.

The manoeuvrability of each ferry will be enhanced through the incorporation of bridge ailerons, two bow thrusters, and four rudders.