The catamaran “Cecilia Payne” to operate in the Canary Islands for the first time, replacing the trimaran “Pepita Castellví” during technical stop

Starting November 5, the catamaran “Cecilia Payne” will replace the trimaran “Pepita Castellví” on the route between Los Cristianos, San Sebastián de La Gomera, and Santa Cruz de La Palma, while the latter undergoes a technical stop for scheduled maintenance, due to the innovative and successful trimaran from Baleària Canarias.

This move by the shipping company led by Adolfo Utor resolves the situation and, at the same time, marks the first time this reliable vessel from Baleària will operate in the Canary Islands. It will come from covering the Ceuta-Algeciras route, where it has replaced the catamaran “Volcán de Teno,” which is currently docked at the port of Algeciras while comprehensive interior renovation work is ongoing.

Formerly known as “Jonathan Swift,” built as number 094 by Austal Ships Pty, Fremantle, Australia, it entered service in June 1999 on the Dublin-Holyhead route under the flag of Irish Ferries Ltd. Since January 2018, it has been owned by Baleària Eurolíneas Marítimas and debuted on the Denia-Ibiza-Palma route in June of that year.

The ship's name honors Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin (1900-1979), a prominent Anglo-American astronomer who, in her doctoral thesis in 1925, argued that stars are primarily composed of hydrogen. 

Weighing 5,992 gross tons and 455 tons deadweight, it measures 86.60 m in length, 24.40 m in beam, and has a maximum draft of 3.20 m. It has a capacity for 800 passengers and a garage for 200 cars, powered by four Caterpillar 3618 engines, totaling 28,800 kW, which drive an equal number of water jets, allowing it to maintain a speed of 34 knots. IMO 9188881.

Photo: Manuel Aguilera Panadero for puentedemando.com