Baleària Vessels to Be Certified as COVID-19 Safe
Shipping line Baleària says it is working toward being the first in the world to obtain the Global Safe Site COVID-19 badge at the highest level (Excellence) from certification and inspection body Bureau Veritas, certifying that its ships and the ferry terminals that it manages implement specific procedures, cleaning plans, organizational and personal protective measures to prevent COVID-19. The carrier will also periodically test for the possible presence of the virus on surfaces…
Balearia Launches Florida-Bahamas Fast Ferry
Baleària Caribbean has launches a new fast-transport service linking Fort Lauderdale (Florida) with the island of Bimini in the Bahamas. The fast ferry connecting these two ports has a 650-person capacity and a maximum speed of 38 knots—35 for service—with the journey taking just under two hours.With five weekly services programmed to Bimini (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday), the number of connections could increase based on demand.The new faster ferry service from Port Everglades to Bimini replaces the previous service from the Port of Miami. Thus, Baleària Caribbean becomes the Resorts World Bimini official provider for both passengers and cargo.Adolfo Utor…
First LNG-Fueled Ferry in Mediterranean Starts Sailing
Spanish shipping company Baleària said its Hypatia de Alejandría, first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled ferry on the Mediterranean, completed its first commercial trip between Barcelona and Palma.The ferry reached the Port of Barcelona last Sunday from Venice where the shipyard Cantiere Navale Visentini, where it was built, is located.The president of Baleària, Adolfo Utor, and the Chairwoman of Port of Barcelona, Mercè Conesa, exchanged metopes to commemorate the first port of call for the Hypatia de Alejandría at this port which, just like the shipping company, is committed to reducing emissions and promoting the use of LNG.“The Hypatia of Alexandria marks an important milestone both in the history of Baleària and navigation in the Mediterranean…
Baleària Builds World's First Gas Engine-Powered High-Speed Catamaran
The shipping line Baleària, a pioneer in the application of liquefied natural gas in sea transportation, has marked another milestone with the construction of the world's first passenger and cargo fast ferry powered by dual LNG engines. The fast ferry is being built at the Armon shipyard in Gijón, as announced yesterday by Baleària President Adolfo Utor at the inaugural conference of the 57th Naval Engineering and Maritime Industry Congress currently being held in Valencia.Capacity and investmentWith a length of 125 meters and a beam of 28 meters…
Five Baleària Ferries to Run on LNG
The Mediterranean ferry company Baleària said it will invest €60 million ($70.2 million) over the next to years to retrofit five ferries to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is planning to further expand its gas-powered fleet.The use of LNG in these five vessels — Naples, Abel Matutes, Sicily, Bahama Mama and Martin i Soler — is expected to reduce more than 45,000 tons of CO2 annually, 4,400 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and eliminate sulfur and particulate emissions completely.Naples will be the first ferry to adapt the gas propulsion, with conversion work planned for the winter months, Baleària said in a press release.In addition to the gas remotorization of these five ferries…
Gas Natural Fenosa, Baleària Sign LNG Bunkering Deal
Spanish liquefied natural gas (LNG) operator Gas Natural Fenosa signed an exclusive 10-year LNG supply deal with Spanish ferry operator Baleària. According to the company release, the supply contract will initially apply to the ports of Barcelona, Valencia and Algeciras, then extended to all the peninsular ports operated by the shipping company together with the entire new fleet powered by this fuel committed to using LNG as an ecological fuel. The president of Baleària, Adolfo Utor, and the Wholesale Iberian Marketing Manager of GAS NATURAL FENOSA, Joaquín Mendiluce, this morning signed this agreement at the International Tourism Fair (Fitur) in Madrid.
Baleària repowers high-speed ship ‘Jaume II’
Baleària repowers the high-speed ship ‘Jaume II’ to improve its energy efficiency, reliability and service. The investment totaling more than 5.5 million euros is part of the shipping line’s fleet modernization process. The work will be done at the Astilleros del Guadalquivir shipyard as an agreement has been reached with them to handle all stranding operations for its fast ferries. Work began this week to repower Baleària’s fast ferry Jaume II at the Astilleros del Guadalquivir shipyard, where the four main engines will be replaced to improve its propulsion system and reduce fuel consumption and contaminating emissions. The installation of new engines…
Baleària Orders Two Dual Fuel Ferries
Spanish shipping line Baleària said it has reached an agreement with the Italian shipyard Cantiere Navale Visentini to build two dual-fuel sister ferries, measuring 186.5 meters in length and a capacity for 810 people, 2,180 linear meters of cargo and 150 cars. The total investment in these vessels is some 200 million euros (approximately $215 million USD); they are expected to be operational by the end of 2018. The ships will reach speeds of 24 knots thanks to two dual engines with a total power of 20,600 KW.
LaNaval Likely to Build Two LNG Fueled Ferries
Shipping company Baleària and Shipyard Construcciones Navales del Norte – LaNaval have reached this week an Agreement - expected to be firm in two months - for the construction of two natural gas propelled ferries around Euro 350 million. The new ships, further to be the first ones to be running on natural gas in Spain, will be among the largest in Europe and the biggest ever built in a Spanish shipyard. Baleària, with its focus on the energy efficiency has ordered these ship with dual fuel engines that will be capable to run on natural gas or diesel oil and therefore will allow the company to reduce more than 30% the CO2 emissions as well as others. The construction of the first unit will start in 2016 and will be in operation during the first quarter of 2018. Chairman of Baleària, Mr.
Balearia Requests US-Cuba Ferry License
Balearia has requested a license to operate between the U.S. and Cuba from the U.S. Treasury Department, after both countries' announcement of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations. The shipping company is awaiting an official response from the U.S. government, and the subsequent authorization from the Cuban government. The Spanish maritime transport company has operated in the Caribbean region since late 2011 under the brand Bahamas Express, connecting Fort Lauderdale (north of Miami) and Freeport (in Grand Bahama Island).
Spain's First Pure-Gas Marine Engine
Rolls-Royce has signed a collaboration agreement with Spanish energy company Gas Natural Fenosa to develop and install a pure-gas Bergen engine aboard the Baleària-operated ferry Abel Matutes. According to Rolls-Royce , the contract gives the company its first reference for a pure-gas engine installation on a European-flagged ferry operating outside of Norwegian waters. The 29,670 metric ton ROPAX ferry, delivered in 2010 from the Hijos de J Barreras shipyard in Vigo, Spain, will use an LNG-fuelled Rolls-Royce Bergen C26:33 L6 AG auxiliary engine to generate 1…
Rolls-Royce, Baleària to Partner in LNG Conversion Project
Rolls-Royce Plc signed a memorandum of understanding with Spanish shipping company Baleària to design gas-powered propulsion systems for three of the company’s high-speed ferries, which currently run on diesel. Baleària, which operates ferry services between the Spanish mainland and the Balearic Islands in the Strait of Gibraltar and The Bahamas Islands, is proposing the conversion of three ferries from diesel to liquefied natural gas (LNG). Adolfo Utor, the Baleària Chief Executive Officer said, “This is a strategic agreement for the future of the company.
