Baleària Raises the Bar on the Melilla-Almería-Motril Route with the Addition of the Ferry “Bahama Mama”

Baleària, the leading company in Spain for maritime transport of passengers and goods, adds the ferry “Bahama Mama” to the Melilla-Almería-Motril route, an essential public service connection for the mobility of the Autonomous City. This is also the first ship painted with the Baleària Canarias insignia to sail on this triangular route.

This ship change represents one of the first operational measures of the company after completing the integration process of Armas Trasmediterránea in the Alborán and the Strait, and aims to adapt the service on this route to Baleària's quality standards and efficiently meet the needs of the Melilla society.

The General Director of Baleària, Georges Bassoul, stated that “Melilla is a strategic and very sensitive location from the mobility perspective, and Baleària's responsibility is to provide stability, capacity, and good service,” highlighting that the addition of the ferry “Bahama Mama” is “a clear way to demonstrate that commitment.”

Increased Frequency of Schedules

Since July 1, the ferry “Bahama Mama” connects Melilla with the Peninsula daily. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, it offers departures to Almería, while from Thursday to Sunday, it connects with the port of Motril.

The ferry “Bahama Mama” has a capacity for 1,000 passengers and 350 vehicles, can reach a speed of 23 knots, and is powered by dual natural gas engines, allowing it to reduce its carbon footprint. Additionally, it features double and quadruple cabins, both interior and exterior, and is equipped with ergonomic and reclining seats from the Keyton brand.

Among the onboard services, there is Wi-Fi connection throughout the journey, a children's area, cafeterias and shops, a pool on the outdoor terrace, pet-friendly spaces, and areas adapted for people with reduced mobility.

The ferry “Bahama Mama” had previously operated on the routes with Melilla, including connections with Almería and Motril between 2022 and 2023, when Baleària was awarded all public interest maritime lines between the autonomous city and the Peninsula.

Additional Reinforcement with the ‘Ferry Almariya’

The ferry “Almariya,” resulting from the acquisition of assets from the Armas Trasmediterránea Group in Alborán, will join the operations between Almería, Motril, and Melilla during July and August to reinforce the service during the busiest weeks of the Operation Paso del Estrecho. The schedule will progressively intensify to adapt the offer to the evolution of demand. This ship also connects from Almería to the Algerian ports of Oran and Ghazaouet.

Baleària has operated routes with Melilla since 2016 and has maintained, since 2023, the ferry “Rusadir” on the connection with Málaga, a state-of-the-art ship equipped with an electric propulsion system powered by dual natural gas engines.

With this deployment, the company strengthens its presence in the maritime connections of the autonomous city and consolidates its commitment to an increasingly comfortable, efficient service tailored to the needs of passengers and businesses.

Photo: provided