Baleària to Build Eco-Efficient LNG Ferry for Service in Mediterranean

Baleària announced it will build an LNG-powered ferry that will be the largest operating in the Mediterranean. The ferry, which will be built at the LaNaval Shipyard, is scheduled to start operations in 2019. The two companies signed a deal for more than $175 million and will provide the option to build a second sister ship in the coming months.

The new vessel will be among the largest in Europe, with a length of over 760 ft., besides being the first passenger ferry to be powered by LNG in the Mediterranean. The ship can reach a speed of 23 knots thanks to three dual fuel engines, which can be used either with natural gas or liquid fuel, and thus allow the company to reduce by more than 40 percent CO2, NOx, and avoid emissions of sulfur and other particular matters, according to Baleària.