Baleària Awarded 27-Year Concession for New Barcelona Ferry Terminal

By 2026 Newsletter week 13

The Port Authority of Barcelona has granted Baleària a concession to build and operate a new passenger and RoRo cargo terminal at the Adosado dock.

  • Concession term: 27 years (renewable)
  • No competing bids were submitted after public consultation
  • Application filed in December 2024

Port President José Alberto Carbonell said the project will strengthen operational capacity and support more efficient and sustainable port operations.

Project Scope

The project includes full development of the terminal area:

  • 5,600 m² terminal building (passengers and offices)
  • Passenger and vehicle handling areas
  • Truck and car waiting zones
  • Semi-trailer storage and internal roads
  • Parking, taxi and bus areas, public spaces

Additional features:

  • Boarding bridges
  • OPS (shore power) readiness
  • Photovoltaic energy system
  • Total investment: €25.3 million

Phased Development

  • Phase 1 (Feb 2027): 38,000 m² operational area
  • Phase 2 (end 2029): full 75,250 m² site
  • Final setup: 4 simultaneous RoRo berths

Baleària Expands High-Speed Fleet with Trimaran

By 2026 Newsletter week 10
  • Baleària has acquired a 102-metre high-speed trimaran to strengthen its fast ferry fleet.
  • The vessel, to be renamed PEPA CASTELLVÍ, was built by Austal and can carry 870 passengers and 250 vehicles, with 190 lane metres for freight and a top speed of 35 knots.
  • Previously operated by Condor Ferries, the former CONDOR LIBERATION will undergo technical works and a refit in Algeciras.
  • Entry into service is expected in summer 2026, increasing Baleària’s high-speed capacity.

Baleària Improves Turnover And EBITDA In 2025 Thanks To International Growth

By 2026 Newsletter week 09

Baleària closed 2025 with strong financial results, surpassing €800 million in turnover and significantly improving profitability, driven largely by the expansion of its international routes.

Key Financial Highlights

  • Turnover: €801 million (+16%)
  • EBITDA: €170 million (+29%)
  • Net profit: €63 million (+152%)

President Adolfo Utor said the results confirm the robustness of the company’s business model and its ability to grow sustainably in a competitive market.

International Routes Gain Strategic Weight

In revenue terms, North African connections—both domestic and international—now contribute a share comparable to that of the Balearic Islands, traditionally Baleària’s core market.

Traffic figures underline the shift:

  • 6.5 million passengers transported (+15%)
  • 1.6 million vehicles (+11%)
  • International passengers: +68%, nearly 2 million in total

Morocco has consolidated its position as Baleària’s main international market. The 15-year concession for the Tarifa–Tangier City route has strengthened passenger flows, while new services to Algeria have further expanded the company’s North African footprint.

Over the past decade, Baleària has doubled its passenger volumes.

Cargo: A Structural Pillar

Cargo remains central to the business model:

  • 8.4 million linear metres transported (+10%)
  • Equivalent to approximately 622,000 lorries
  • Represents 36% of total turnover

Morocco accounts for 29% of total cargo volume, emerging as a strategic logistics hub. The Balearic Islands remain the largest single market, with 59% of cargo volumes.

Operational Efficiency Offsets Regulatory Costs

Fleet expansion and new route launches improved productivity and operational efficiency, allowing Baleària to absorb rising environmental compliance costs without compromising profitability.

The company sailed 1.9 million miles in 2025 (+1.5%), while maintaining tight cost control.

Sustainability And Emissions Reduction

Baleària continues to position sustainability as a competitive lever:

  • Emissions per passenger: -15%
  • Total carbon footprint: -1.4%
  • Emissions per mile sailed: -2.85%
  • Emissions per linear metre of cargo: -12%
  • Greenhouse gas intensity: -5.25%

The use of natural gas and biogas, alongside eco-efficiency investments, has enabled measurable progress despite higher activity levels.

Strategic Outlook

With EBITDA growth outpacing turnover and international routes gaining importance, Baleària has reinforced its standing in the European ferry market.

The company combines geographic diversification, cargo resilience, and decarbonisation efforts, positioning itself for further expansion while maintaining financial discipline.

Menorca: Baleària, GNV and Trasmed Meet Island Council on Sustainable Connectivity

By 2026 Newsketter week 05

The top executives of Baleària, GNV and Trasmed met with the President of the Menorca Island Council to reinforce institutional cooperation and support coordinated public policies on sustainable island connectivity.

The three operators reiterated their willingness to contribute constructively to discussions on transport and tourism models, balancing connectivity needs with the protection of the island and the daily life of residents.

They also offered to provide operational data and sector expertise to help shape effective mobility solutions.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to maintain ongoing dialogue, underlining that all affected stakeholders must be involved in structural debates on the future of sustainable connectivity for Menorca.

Source: Baleària

Fred. Olsen Express and Baleària add BUENAVISTA EXPRESS to Huelva–Canaries route

By 2026 Newsletter week 03

Fred. Olsen Express and Baleària will deploy BUENAVISTA EXPRESS on the Huelva–Canary Islands service, replacing SICILIA from 24 January 2026.

From that date, the route will be operated by MARIE CURIE and BUENAVISTA EXPRESS, ensuring a reliable and efficient service for both passengers and rolling cargo.

BUENAVISTA EXPRESS is the former FORTUNY. The RoPax will make its inaugural sailing on 24 January.

Baleària Tests Methanol-to-Hydrogen Power Unit on CAP DE BARBARIA

By 2025 Newsletter week 48
  • Baleària will install Europe’s first stand-alone e-methanol electricity generation container on the electric ferry CAP DE BARBARIA.
  • The eNomad system, developed by Methanol Reformer, reforms renewable methanol to produce hydrogen on board for auxiliary power.
  • The project turns the Ibiza–Formentera ferry into a hydrogen research platform, testing fuel cells, batteries and methanol as an energy vector.
  • The hydrogen will power a fuel cell, reducing generator use, cutting fuel consumption and lowering emissions.
  • Baleària wants to assess scalability for other ships and routes as part of its broader decarbonisation strategy.
  • CAP DE BARBARIA already operates with zero emissions in port, cutting CO₂ by 33% since 2023.
  • The initiative forms part of the BUCEMTO project, supported by EU Next Generation funds.
  • Baleària continues a multi-energy approach, combining natural gas, biofuels, electricity, hydrogen and methanol.

Baleària Highlights Refrigerated Cargo at Fruit Attraction

By 2025 Newsletter week 40
  • Refrigerated products, mainly fruits and vegetables, account for 35% of Baleària’s cargo in the Balearic Islands and 25% in Morocco.
  • The company is showcasing its expertise in refrigerated cargo at Fruit Attraction, the leading international fair for the fruit and vegetable sector.
  • Cargo Director Maximiliano Bermejo stressed Baleària’s commitment to the agri-food sector, underlining speed and reliability as key values.
  • Total freight traffic rose 11% between January and August 2025 compared to last year.
  • Growth was seen in the Balearics, Morocco, and Algeria, supported by new Barcelona–Algiers and Barcelona–Oran services.
  • Baleària will also present innovation and sustainability projects to reduce the carbon footprint of fresh produce shipping.

Source: Baleària

Baleària Introduces Regular Use of BioLNG

By 2025 Newsletter week 40
  • Since September, MARGARITA SALAS, ABEL MATUTES and RUSADIR run exclusively on renewable bioGNL.
  • Baleària sourced 132 GWh of bioLNG, enough for carbon-neutral sailing until December 2025.
  • This represents 13% of the LNG consumed by the fleet in 2024.
  • The use of bioGNL between September and December avoids 80,300 tonnes of CO₂ – equivalent to removing 153,500 cars from the road or planting 160,650 trees.
  • BioLNG is produced from livestock waste, capturing methane and converting it into energy, with GHG savings above 200% compared to fossil fuels.
  • Baleària is the first European ferry operator to receive ISCC EU certification, guaranteeing traceability and sustainability of biofuels.
  • The certification strengthens Baleària’s position as a pioneer in maritime decarbonisation.

Source: Baleària

Baleària Files Lawsuit Against Ibiza Vehicle Restriction

By 2025 Newsletter week 38

Baleària has lodged a lawsuit against the Agreement of the Consell d’Eivissa (28 March 2025), which enforces Law 7/2024 on vehicle traffic control for sustainable tourism.

The shipping company seeks:

  • Annulment of the restriction (valid until 30 September).
  • A constitutional review, arguing violation of fundamental rights: equality and mobility.

Key arguments:

  • Legal and technical inadequacy: reports by Universitat Jaume I and consulting firm Meteoclim claim the measure is ineffective, discriminatory, and amounts to “regulatory greenwashing.”
  • Minimal environmental benefit: the measure does not target the main source of congestion – resident vehicles – and lacks monitoring mechanisms.
  • Negative economic impact: restrictions harm maritime transport, while air passengers face no limits.
  • Unintended effects: vehicle registrations on Ibiza rose by over 70% (Feb–Jun 2025), bypassing the restriction.

Baleària President Adolfo Utor:

“We believe the Consell’s agreement is a political and management blunder and a legal botch… This measure seriously harms a strategic sector and paradoxically attacks what it claims to defend: the environment and maritime connectivity.”

The company will publish detailed evidence of the restriction’s impact in the coming days.

Baleària Launches AI Challenge With Marina de Empresas and Google Cloud

By 2025 Newsletter week 38
  • Baleària has launched a new challenge at Marina de Empresas’ DataHub, in collaboration with Google Cloud.
  • Goal: develop an AI solution to improve customer experience using data such as occupancy, prices, promotions, weather, and market behaviour.
  • Participants will use Google Cloud’s Vertex AI and BigQuery, supported by experts from Sngular.
  • Programme runs 17–31 October, with final presentations on 31 October.
  • Open to students, faculty, startups, employees, and professionals with data/AI experience. Registration closes 10 October.

Source: Baleària (in Spanish)