The Electric Catamaran Project by Baleària Positions Grupo Armón in the Elite Group of Global High Speed

Baleària has become the reference client of Grupo Armón in the construction of next-generation fast ferries at the Gijón shipyard. A recent trip to Asturias gave us the opportunity to visit this historic factory —founded on December 6, 1900, as La Constructora Gijonesa by industrialist Domingo Juliana Albert—, on the occasion of the simultaneous construction of the first two 100% electric zero-emission catamarans, intended to operate on the Tarifa-Tanger Ville line starting in 2027.

The new vessels will bear the names of “Spain 2030” and “Morocco 2030,” in homage to the 2030 World Cup, and are currently under construction in dry dock, with the following schedule. In the upcoming October, the catamaran “Spain 2030” will be launched, whose name is already visible on the bows and is the most advanced —part of Baleària's corporate color is also visible on the starboard superstructure—, and its delivery is scheduled for June 2027.

Regarding the second vessel, it will be launched in March 2027 and delivered the following September. When the first one is launched, the second will also be launched, in a complex operation that will require repositioning it to the exact spot where it currently is, after draining the dock. Currently, as we have been able to verify, most of the “Morocco 2030” vessel (see second group of photos) is in the assembly phase in the dock, with other sections in modular welding at nearby facilities.

The two twin catamarans will be equipped with an electric power of 16 MW and batteries with a capacity of 13,824 kWh, allowing them to complete the entire journey of 18 nautical miles exclusively with electric energy and without polluting emissions. Electric propulsion also has the advantage of eliminating noise and vibrations, which will improve the onboard experience. Each vessel will also have four diesel combustion support generators, with a total capacity of 11,200 kW, to cover possible contingencies.

The project, resulting from a public-private collaboration and presented in January 2025 at Fitur, also includes the electrification of the ports of Tarifa and Tanger Ville, where battery storage systems of 8 MWh gross each will be installed, which will supplement the onshore electricity supply —5 MW in Tarifa and 8 MVA in Tangier—. Additionally, fast charging systems will be installed using two autonomous robotic arms connected to the vessels via the OPS (Onshore Power System) connection, allowing the necessary batteries for the route to be charged in 40 minutes during port stops. Among the onboard and onshore facilities, the total battery capacity will be 39 MWh gross (equivalent to 765 electric cars).

The president of Baleària, Adolfo Utor, states that the construction of these two catamarans 100% electric represents “a decisive step towards decarbonized and sustainable maritime mobility, advancing the climate goals set for 2050 to 2027.”

Utor, who anticipates that the catamaran “Spain 2030” will come for test voyages to the Canary Islands and a special event will likely be held in La Gomera, emphasizes that “this green corridor will be an essential link between two countries with a close historical, cultural, economic, and commercial relationship, and a driver of local development and job creation.” 

The design of the vessels, optimized for the operational characteristics of both ports, will offer capacity for 804 passengers and 225 vehicles, a maximum speed of 26 knots, and a T-Foil system that will enhance comfort during navigation. They will have great maneuverability, with ailerons on the bridge integrating all controls, two bow propellers, two stern propellers, and four rudders. They will also have two high-capacity ramps at the stern, designed to expedite operations and maneuvers in port.

This initiative is part of Baleària's innovative and eco-efficient fleet strategy, which already includes twelve vessels powered by natural gas and experience in electric energy, with vessels such as “Cap de Barbaria” and “Rusadir.” In fact, thanks to the use of these greener energies and eco-efficiency measures, in 2024 the shipping company reduced its carbon footprint per passenger by nearly 10%. With these two new catamarans, the shipping company reaffirms its commitment to achieve net zero emissions before 2050. 

In December 2024, Baleària was awarded the contract from the Port Authority of Algeciras Bay (APBA) to manage the Tarifa-Tanger Ville line for the next fifteen years. The APBA prioritized technical and environmental criteria for the awarding of the first intercontinental green line. “The Port Authority established the foundations for this project that aligns with our values of innovation and sustainability. We take on the challenge of turning the Tarifa-Tanger Ville line into an example of mobility, modernity, and international sustainability,” highlighted Adolfo Utor at that time.

In this novel and innovative project, the shipping company, shipyard, and financing are Spanish, and it includes the participation of national and international reference companies in the fields of engineering and energy, such as Cotenaval, Endesa, Amendis, and Incat Crowther.

The president of Baleària refers to an essential structure, which he has defined as “a green umbilical cord that will connect two countries with a close historical, cultural, economic, and commercial relationship.”

Adolfo Utor has also pointed out the shipping company's intention to “turn the Tarifa-Tanger Ville route into a talent attraction hub, a focal point for development opportunities, and a local economic and employment dynamizer.”

The design of the new vessels is similar to the three gas-powered catamarans —“Eleanor Roosevelt,” “Margarita Salas,” and “Mercedes Pinto”—, whose optimal results are well demonstrated, although adapted and optimized for the ports of Tarifa and Tanger Ville.

Thanks:

The director of puentedemando.com thanks Adolfo Utor and Laudelino Alperi for their efforts and the attention of naval engineer Daniel Blanco, who accompanied us during the visit to the centenary shipyard.

Photographic report: Juan Carlos Díaz Lorenzo