On the sidelines of the Fundur show which is currently taking place in Madrid, the Spanish maritime company Baleària announced an innovative project aimed at creating the first ecological maritime corridor between the ports of Tarifa, Spain, and Tangier city, in Morocco. This project provides for the commissioning of two fast ferries operating 100 % to electricity, thus reducing zero carbon emissions.
Baleària obtained the management of this maritime line for a period of 15 years, following a call for tenders launched by the port authority of the Bay of Algeciras. The selection of the company is based on strict criteria, both environmental and technological. The project includes the construction of two twin ships in Armon naval sites, as well as the improvement of port infrastructure to allow rapid recharge of ferries.
Ships at the cutting edge of technology
Ecological ferries will be built in Gijón, Spain, within 30 months. Each ship will have an electric propulsion of 16 megawatts and batteries with a total capacity of 11,500 kWh, sufficient to travel the 18 nautical miles between Tarifa and Tangier City without producing polluting emissions. If necessary, emergency diesel generators of 11,200 kW will be available.
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The ferries batteries will be recharged during one hour stops thanks to OPS (Oshor Power Supply) systems equipped with advanced robotic arms. These systems will be supported by 8 MWh terrestrial batteries installed in the ports.
Public-private collaboration
This project is the fruit of collaboration between the public and private sector, involving several Spanish and international companies specialized in the fields of engineering and energy, such as Cotenaval, Endesa, Amandis and Incat Crowther. During the presentation of the project, Adolfo Utor, president of Baleària, stressed that this initiative aims to transform maritime transport thanks to electric propulsion reducing not only emissions, but also noise and vibrations, thus improving the comfort of passengers .
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The announcement brought together several public and institutional figures. Karima Benyaich, ambassador of Morocco to Spain, praised this sustainable initiative, claiming that it will help strengthen economic and cultural relations between the two countries. For his part, José Antonio Santano, Spanish Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, highlighted the exemplarity of Baleària in the decarbonation of the maritime sector. Arturo Bernal, Minister of Tourism of Andalusia, estimated that this corridor could accommodate up to 4 million passengers per year.
62 million euros for electrification
The project also benefits from an investment of 62 million euros for the electrification of port infrastructure in Tarifa and Algeciras, according to Gerardo Landaluce, president of the port authority of the Bay of Algeciras.
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In addition to its environmental advantages, this ecological corridor aims to energize tourism and trade between Morocco and Spain. It is part of a broader perspective of bilateral cooperation, in particular within the framework of the joint candidacy of the two countries to host the World Cup in 2030. This pioneering project could eventually become a global reference in the field of sustainable maritime.
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