Alan Lam reporting

Baleària, the Spanish ferry company, has just reached the final agreement with LaNaval, the Spanish shipbuilder, to build   the first   LNG-powered   passenger ferry in the Mediterranean. The €175 million contract was signed on 28 February, with the option for a second vessel.  

The  eco-efficient  “smartship,” scheduled to enter service   in 2019, will also use solar energy in its day-to-day operations. The 1,600-pasenger, ,3,300-lanemetre dual fuel unit, according to the company, will be among the largest operating in Europe, and one of the largest in the world. “With the new ferry we will reinforce the idea of the pleasure of travelling and its compatibility with the environmental protection," said Adolfo Utor, Chairman of Baleària.  

"We   want   to   establish   a   before   and   after   in   maritime   transport, incorporating the latest technology to make the trip a unique experience. The ship will also meet the needs of logistics operators, both in terms of service and capacity, which will be key to the viability of the project."

"The   signing of the contract, after months of working   together,” said Jose Ignacio Irasuegui, Managing Director of   LaNaval, “confirms our strategy of working closely with our customers from the earliest conceptual stages, it’s a milestone that consolidates LaNaval’s position in the passenger ship market and, in general, in the design and construction of ships with high technological contents. We are convinced that this agreement will be the start of a long-term relationship between LaNaval and Baleària, one of Europe's largest shipping companies in the field of freight and passenger transport.

Besides including all manners of efficiency and sustainability features, such as solar panels, an optimised hull form design and energy-efficient propellers, the vessel will also be fitted with the latest communication technology, incorporating many design features of a modern cruise ship. It will be equipped with three dual fuel engines to cut Baleària’s CO2 and NOx emissions by 40%, as well as avoiding the discharge of sulphur and particulate matters when running on gas.

Baleària is among the forerunners in this field; it has been in partnership withRolls Royce in developing LNG engines for ferries. LaNaval is a leading eco-ship builder; it is already building an eco-ferry, powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) for TESO, the Dutch ferry company