Spain's First Fully Electric Fast Ferry Launched in Gijón in 200-Million-Euro Plan for First Zero-Emission Europe-Africa Corridor
Spain's Recovery Plan portal and government information show that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited on October 26 the Armón shipyard in Gijón, Asturias, to see a fully electric fast ferry under construction. The vessel, built by Armón for ferry operator Baleària and launched on October 24, is part of the first and largest zero-emission fast ferry project in Spain and Europe.
The project comprises two vessels with a total investment of 200 million euros, including charging upgrades at the two ports, and will open the first zero-emission green maritime corridor between Europe and Africa, across the 18 nautical miles between Tarifa and Tangier. The first vessel is expected to enter service in the summer of 2027.
The 87-metre aluminium catamaran can charge its batteries in about 40 minutes to the level needed for each crossing, sailing with zero emissions and no noise. Each vessel will carry 804 passengers and 225 vehicles.
Baleària said the project would create more than 300 direct jobs in Gijón and the province of Cádiz during construction and the port adaptation works. Armón is Spain's largest private shipbuilding group, with five yards in Asturias and Galicia and capacity for some 40 vessels a year.
Source: Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, Spain
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：一艘快速渡轮。Sir James 摄，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 3.0。 / Photo: A fast ferry. Photo by Sir James, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
