- The Spanish shipping company Baleària has unveiled its ambitious project for the first 100-per cent electric, zero-emission ferry route.
- The new electric ferries will eliminate carbon emissions across the 18-mile crossing, reducing CO2 output by 44,000 tons annually and setting a new benchmark for eco-friendly maritime transport between Europe and Africa.
The Spanish shipping company Baleària has unveiled its ambitious project for the first 100-per cent electric, zero-emission ferry route connecting Tangier City Port and Tarifa.
The new green corridor aims to revolutionise maritime travel between Morocco and Spain by 2027, operating two fast ferries built in Spain and dedicated solely to this route.
The announcement was made during a high-profile event in Tangier attended by Moroccan Transport Minister Abdessamad Kayouh, Spain’s Ambassador Enrique Ojeda, and key regional and port authorities, highlighting the strong cooperation between both countries.
Baleària President Adolfo Utor emphasised the project’s focus on sustainability and innovation, describing it as a “green lifeline linking Morocco and Spain.”
The new electric ferries will eliminate carbon emissions across the 18-mile crossing, reducing CO2 output by 44,000 tons annually and setting a new benchmark for eco-friendly maritime transport between Europe and Africa.
The two state-of-the-art catamarans, to be built at the Spanish shipyard Armon, will have a combined electric power of 16 MW and battery capacity of 11,500 kWh each, enabling fully electric journeys without noise or emissions.
They will be recharged during quick one-hour port stops using cutting-edge robotic charging arms and onshore power systems installed in both Tangier and Tarifa.
Each ferry will carry up to 804 passengers and 225 vehicles, cruising at speeds of 26 knots with enhanced passenger comfort through advanced design features.
Baleària’s CEO Georges Bassoul highlighted the project as a pioneering public-private partnership involving major engineering and energy firms, pushing forward Morocco-Spain ties with a clear commitment to a greener future and aligning with 2050 decarbonisation goals.
The Spanish media mentioned earlier this year that “the ferry operator Baleària is planning to spearhead the project with a total investment of €160 million over the next 15 years.”
Of this amount, according to the same source, €135 million will be allocated to the construction of electric ferries, port electrification, and battery charging systems.