Baleària and the Armon de Vigo shipyard have successfully carried out the first sea trials of the Cap de Barbaria, the first electric passenger and cargo ferry in Spain with zero emissions in approaches and stays in port.
These tests, which are part of the final phase of the ship's construction, make it possible to calibrate the propulsion and navigation equipment, as well as to certify stability, draft, reliability and safety. The shipping company explains that once "the excellent operating conditions of the ship" have been verified, both in terms of speed and behavior at sea, it expects to receive the ship in mid-May.
Baleària plans for the ferry to begin linking Ibiza and Formentera this spring, with emissions-free navigation and stay in ports, thanks to its electric propulsion. The ship has an energy storage system, with state-of-the-art lithium batteries, which will allow it to have a 12-hour autonomy in port, as well as an OPS (Onshore Power Supply) connection socket.
The ship's power plant will have an intelligent management system to optimize its use at all times and improve its efficiency. During all the phases of approach, maneuver, mooring and stay in port, the ship will not emit polluting gases into the atmosphere and, therefore, will represent a substantial improvement in air quality compared to ships currently operating on the route. The ship is 82 meters long and 15.5 meters wide, and a speed of up to 14 knots.
The Cap de Barbaria will be "fundamental" for the supply of essential products to Formentera, since it will be able to transport up to 240 linear meters of cargo -approximately 14 trucks- and 390 passengers. They explain that the double-ended design and a 360-degree azimuth electric propulsion will allow great agility in loading and unloading operations and in maneuvers, which will compensate for its saved speed.
As for the passage, in its design the exterior spaces focused on the summer market have prevailed, with practically 360º vision on the upper deck, with a chill out area with sofas and sun loungers, a space for a DJ with good sound equipment and some showers. to cool off during the journey. It will also have two cafeterias, one inside and one outside, and a children's area to liven up the journey for the little ones.
The Cap de Barbaria will begin its services as H2 Ready, that is, prepared to be able to install a hydrogen system with a 200 kW cell, a storage capacity that would allow its use for 24 hours and the supply of 30% of the required energy. by the ship. Baleària will take advantage of Cap de Barbaria as a test laboratory for the use of green hydrogen on a small scale.
The construction of the ship is a project co-financed by the Next Generation Funds of the European Union, channeled through the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
