Baleària is enhancing its summer ferry services between Spain and Algeria, increasing weekly sailings from three to five between 15 June and 15 September. The expanded schedule includes three weekly departures from Valencia to Mostaganem and two from Barcelona—one to Algiers and a newly launched route to Oran.
To support the increase in services, two ferries will be deployed, offering amenities such as halal dining, prayer areas, and customer service in Arabic.
Ferry operator Baleària has raised concerns about proposed limits on vehicle access to the Balearic Islands, warning that such measures could reduce maritime services and disrupt supply chains without solving congestion issues.
President Adolfo Utor argued that maritime transport plays a minimal role in road traffic and is vital for the movement of people and goods. He cautioned that restricting vehicles could make ferry routes less viable, impact local supplies, and shift travellers toward air transport and rental cars, to the detriment of national tourism.
Baleària is urging authorities to seek collaborative, sustainable solutions rather than impose measures that could harm essential ferry connections.
Baleària has reported solid financial results for 2024, with an EBITDA of €130 million, marking an 11% increase from the previous year. This growth was driven by a 6% rise in revenue, reaching €691 million, reinforcing the company’s financial stability. However, net profit fell 36% to €25 million, mainly due to higher depreciation, financing costs, and environmental compliance expenses.
Despite these financial pressures, Baleària tripled its investments to over €300 million, prioritising fleet renewal and efficiency enhancements. The company also announced the appointment of Guillermo Utor as its new vice president and board member.
Expanding Routes and Growing Passenger Traffic
Operating 28 routes across five countries with a fleet of around 40 vessels, Baleària remains a leader in passenger transport, which accounts for 61% of its revenue. In 2024, it carried:
The Balearic Islands remain the core market, with 50% of passengers travelling on these routes. The Ceuta connections continue to be the second-most popular, while the Melilla-Málaga route saw the highest growth.
Internationally, Morocco is the key market, contributing 18% of total passengers. This presence is set to grow with the launch of the first green shipping corridor between Tarifa and Tangier Ville. Additionally, Baleària has expanded operations in Algeria, introducing three new routes that performed strongly over the summer.
Freight Business and Strategic Markets
Baleària transported 7.6 million lane metres of cargo in 2024, a 3% increase, playing a vital role in logistics.
Advancing Sustainability: Lowering Emissions Amid Increased Operations
Despite sailing 1.8 million miles (+1.4%), Baleària reduced its total CO₂ emissions for the first time (excluding pandemic years):
These achievements stem from improved operational efficiency and a 184% increase in LNG usage. Baleària is also testing bioLNG, trialling it on its latest vessels, Margarita Salas and Rusadir, as part of its transition towards alternative energy.
Regulatory Challenges and a €1B Investment in Sustainable Shipping
Baleària has committed €1 billion (2017–2028) to a more sustainable fleet, balancing operational excellence with environmental responsibility. However, regulations significantly impact costs:
With the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) now in force, covering 40% of emissions in 2024 and increasing to 70% in 2025, plus upcoming low-carbon fuel mandates and the Mediterranean’s designation as a sulphur emission control area (SECA) from May 2025, Baleària faces escalating financial and operational pressures.
Looking Ahead: New Ships and International Expansion
Baleària is investing in new shipbuilding projects:
The company is also expanding internationally, with plans to strengthen its Algerian network and introduce a Dominican Republic–Puerto Rico route.
Source: Baleària (in Spanish)
Baleària launched a new RoPax ferry route from the port of Barcelona to Algiers, which is the company’s first international line from the port of the Catalan capital.
The company currently offers four routes to Algeria:
Baleària has been operating on Algeria since 2016, when it opened its first Valencia-Mostaganem route. Last October, it began operating between Valencia and Algiers, and in December between Valencia and Oran.
The Algerian routes become highly competitive with several European ferry companies offering services, against a weakened state-owned Algérie Ferries.
Source: Baleària
The Lauro Group of Naples has confirmed the purchase of the aged high-speed ferry FORMENTERA DIRECT (formerly PITIUSA NOVA) from Balearia.
This vessel has been moored and inactive since September 2023 in the port of Denia.
In the coming days, it is expected to sail from Spain to Naples, where it will be deployed on the maritime link with the surrounding islands.
FORMENTERA DIRECT has a length of 50 metres, a beam of 14 metres, a maximum speed of 32 knots, and a capacity for 309 passengers and 36 cars.
Photo: Balearia
Baleària continues to expand its connections to Algeria with a new route, between Valencia and Oran, which started on 18 December.
Baleària now has three weekly departures to Algeria, and soon four.
Competition is rising on the Spain to Algeria routes, with the traditional State-owned Algerie Ferries, Baleària, Naviera Armas and newbee Nouris Elbahr Ferries (with the chartered CRACOVIA on Alicante and Marseille).
Baleària has announced the construction of two electric catamarans, ESPAÑA 2030 and MAROC 2030, to operate on the Tarifa-Tanger Ville route, for which they have recently won the tender.
With an investment of €135 million, these vessels will be built at the Armón shipyards and are expected to become operational in two and a half years.
Each catamaran will feature an electric power capacity of 16 MW and batteries with 11,500 kWh, enabling full crossings without CO₂ emissions.
The semi-high-speed vessels will have a capacity for 804 passengers and 225 vehicles, with a maximum speed of 26 knots.
Baleària has been awarded the ferry operation between Tarifa and Tangier City by the Board of Directors of the APBA (*).
Baleària had already declared victory on 18 November, but this was only confirmed on 30 November by APBA.
The public tender, launched in February 2024 by the APBA, also included the participation of the shipping companies FRS Iberia Maroc-DFDS and Sercomisa (Trasmapi – Insotel Marine Group)
(*) APBA = Autoridad Portuaria Bahía de Algeciras – Port of Algeciras
Source: Baleària
Baleària is set to expand its services to Algeria, introducing new routes progressively over the coming weeks.
These new connections will provide greater diversity in both the Spanish ports of departure (Valencia and Barcelona) and the Algerian destinations (Algiers, Oran, and Mostaganem). Baleària, which has been operating in Algeria since 2016, currently offers a weekly service between Valencia and Mostaganem.
Starting on 18th October, Baleària will add a second weekly connection between the port of Valencia and Algiers, complementing its existing service to Mostaganem.
By the end of December, the company plans to offer three weekly departures by introducing a new route between Valencia and Oran.
Furthermore, from 15th January, Baleària will establish a brand-new service connecting Barcelona and Algiers, in addition to maintaining two weekly connections from Valencia – one fixed to the capital, Algiers, and the other alternating weekly between Oran and Mostaganem.
Remark: newco Nouris Elbahr Ferries is about to start operations between Algeria and the European Continent with chartered CRACOVIA.
Source: Baleària (in Spanish)
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