Spanish ferry operator Balearia will introduce the first fully electric ferry service on the Tarifa-Tangier Ville route, connecting Spain (Andalusia's Cadiz Province) and Morocco.
Over the next 2 years, two 87-meter electric catamarans, designed by Incat Crowther, will be constructed at the Armon shipyard in Gijon by Astilleros Armon.
The vessels will have a maximum speed of 26 knots and accommodate 800 passengers and 225 vehicles.
Each ferryboat will be powered by 16 MW of electric propulsion, drawing from 11,500 kWh battery capacity, enabling a complete 29-kilometer/18-mile voyage without emissions. The vessels will retain diesel engines for emergency backup.
Balearia was awarded the 15-year concession for the route by the Algeciras Bay Port Authority (APBA) in December, with the selection process prioritizing sustainability. Once in service, the ferries will recharge during 1-hour stopovers at both ports, utilizing autonomous robotic arms linked to onshore power system (OPS) connections. Charging infrastructure includes 5 MW battery capacity in Tarifa and 8 MW in Tangier, enabling recharging within 40 minutes.
The electrification of the docks requires a EUR 62 million investment in OPS projects in Tarifa and Algeciras, alongside planned improvements to Tarifa’s port access. The combined battery systems across vessels and shore facilities will provide 39 MWh of storage, equivalent to the energy capacity of 765 electric vehicles.
The initiative, integrating private and public investment, is expected to serve ~4 million passengers annually. Andalusia’s Minister of Tourism and External Affairs, Arturo Bernal, commended Balearia and the APBA for pioneering a sustainable intercontinental ferry link, while Balearia’s president, Adolfo Utor, emphasized the project’s role in fostering economic development and job creation along the route.