Baleària might receive additional funds to those granted by the European Union to reopen the Motorway of the Seas route between Gijón and Saint Nazaire. LD Lines closed this route in 2014.
On the Spanish side, several administrative bodies such as the city and the region are prepared to invest, if one of the five converted ferries is being used on the Spain – France route. Balearia asked the EU grants to convert five ferries into LNG-powered ships, but already said it wouldn’t be enough to cover all costs
Balearia’s first of two LNG-powered ro-pax ferries, has been floated out on March 30.
Named HYPATIA DE ALEJANDRIA she is expected to enter service on the Balearic Island services in early 2019.
The pair will be the first LNG ferries of this size in the Mediterranean. They each have a capacity of 2,100 freight lane meters, 810 passengers, and 150 cars.
Recently the Spanish company cancelled the order for another LNG vessel to be built by La Naval, a shipyard in financial trouble.
Photo: Visentini
Baleària can be very satisfied with last year’s results (fiscal year running from 1 November 2016 to 31 October 2017).
Some key figures:
Turnover was €326.6 million = +10%
Profit €43.4 million = +10%
Passengers 3.7 million = +5.7%
One in four passengers traveled on its international routes: 880,000 or +25%
Cargo 5.6 million lane meters = +10.4%
Cargo units 878,000 = +17%
The company has growth plans for international routes, both on North Africa and the Caribbean. Last year it opened Almeria – Nador ( Morocco).
The contract for the building of an LNG ferry at La Naval has been cancelled, due to the problems at the yard.
The objective of the company is to operate a passenger terminal for sole use and a parking for vehicles, which would be located along the Adossat pier, beyond the point where the big cruise ships berth.
Next year the Spanish company will introduce two LNG-powered newbuildings.
Source: Logi News (in Spanish)
Adolfo Utor Martinez, Balearia’s president, said in a radio interview on IB3 Radio that his company is looking at opening a route from Barcelona to North Africa via Mallorca.
They are awaiting approval from the authorities in the unknown North African country.
Irish Continental announced the sale of JONATHAN SWIFT to Balearia Eurolineas Maritimas S.A. for a price of €15.5 million.
Austal-built JONATHAN SWIFT entered service in 1999. She operated on Irish Ferries’ Dublin – Holyhead route.
The vessel is to be delivered to Balearia by the end of April 2018.
ICG’s high-speed craft WESTPAC EXPRESS (2001), which was recently redelivered following a period of twenty months on external charter, will replace her. She is currently undergoing a refurbishment programme.
Photo: WESTPAC EXPRESS © Irish Ferries
The Moby Group has started to charter two freight ferries.
The first is the former QUBRA, owned by CLdN and previously operating for Turkish company Alternative Transport. She has been renamed GIUSEPPE
Second vessel is the PAULINE RUSS, previously on charter to Balearia.