VESSEL REVIEW | Eleanor Roosevelt – Balearia’s new high-capacity, LNG hybrid ferry

A new catamaran Ro-Pax ferry has begun regular sailings with Spanish vessel operator Balearia. Built by local shipyard Armon, the vessel has been named Eleanor Roosevelt after the late former US First Lady.

The all-aluminium newbuild has a length of 123 metres, a beam of 28 metres, and capacity for 1,200 passengers and 450 cars. Alternatively, the ferry’s vehicle decks can accommodate 250 cars plus lorries covering about 500 total lane metres on the main vehicle deck , which also has a height clearance of 4.85 metres.

The ferry incorporates numerous innovations, including improvements in interior design, where priority has been given to spaciousness and the separation between seats, and comfort on board, incorporating a state-of-the-art stabilisation system including a retractable centre-mounted T-foil that can considerably reduce movement.

Vibrations and noise will also be minimised thanks to an elastically floating superstructure and the installation of advanced insulation in the interior spaces. Work on the passenger and crew accommodation spaces totalling more than 2,200 square metres was provided by Oliver Design.

Onboard amenities include bars, four passenger lounges, crew cabins, a crew lounge, an office, a retail shop, casual dining restaurants, a children’s play area, an outdoor terrace, and kennels for pets.

High-speed Wi-Fi connectivity is available throughout the vessel, while access to and from the upper passenger deck is provided by a lift and an escalator.

Power is provided by a quartet of medium-speed, dual-fuel engines that each produce 8,800 kW and drive axial-flow waterjets to deliver a maximum speed of 40 knots or a range of 1,900 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 35 knots.

The engines are designed to operate on either diesel or LNG, making Eleanor Roosevelt the seventh vessel in the Balearia fleet that is powered by this low-emission fuel.

The operator also claims that the use of LNG will be enable the vessel to reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 37,000 tonnes each year. When sailing in LNG-only mode, the ferry can cover 400 nautical miles in between re-fuelling.

Eleanor Roosevelt‘s actual fuel consumption and engine efficiency will be monitored in real-time by on-board measuring equipment and sensors as part of a project co-financed by the European Commission’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) innovation fund. This will enable the crew to make adjustments to the vessel’s operating profile as necessary to help minimise downtimes for maintenance.

Eleanor Roosevelt has already begun operational sailings with Balearia. It is currently providing fast ferry services between Denia on mainland Spain and the islands of Palma and Ibiza in the Balearics.

Click here for the other news, features and reviews comprising this month’s Passenger Vessel Week.