The First Green Corridor Between Spain and Morocco to be Operational by 2027

Baleària presented the green corridor project between Spain and the Kingdom of Morocco in Tangier this Tuesday. The shipping company will operate from 2027 with two zero-emission 'fast ferries' and 100% electric on a route connecting Tarifa with the Moroccan city for the next 15 years after winning the tender from the Algeciras Bay Port Authority (APBA).

These two twin vessels will be built at the Spanish shipyard Armon, and the Dianense shipping company expects them to start service from 2027. Each catamaran will have an electric power of 16 MW, provided by four electric thrusters powered by batteries with a capacity of up to 11,500 kWh, allowing the complete crossing of 18 miles in one go.

The general director of Baleària, Georges Bassoul, detailed that these trips "will meet the objectives set for 2050 in 2027." The executive explains that these catamarans have four diesel combustion support generators, with a total power of 11,200 kW, which can provide support in contingency situations.

These catamarans will be fully recharged during the one-hour stopover in each city. To achieve this, storage systems with batteries of 8 MWh gross each will be installed in both ports, adding to the shore power supply of 5 MW in Tarifa and 8 MW in Tangier.

The charging will be carried out using two autonomous robotic arms, a system known as OPS of "latest generation will allow us to recharge the necessary batteries for the route in just 40 minutes." Adding the installations both on board and on land, the total storage capacity will reach 39 MWh gross, equivalent to the battery of approximately 765 electric cars.

The president of Baleària, Adolfo Utor, highlighted this new line and described it as "a green umbilical cord that will unite two countries with a close relationship." Utor emphasized the pioneering public-private collaboration project that "will allow us for the first time to complete the entire journey with electric energy, without emitting CO2."

These ships are similar to those already operating in the Balearic Islands, although optimized for the route. They will have a beam of 25 meters and capacity for 804 passengers and 225 vehicles, capable of reaching up to 26 knots. On the other hand, the catamarans will offer great maneuverability, thanks to the bridge wings, two bow thrusters, and four rudders. They will also have two high-capacity ramps at the stern, designed to speed up operations and maneuvers in port.

The presentation event in Tangier of the most sustainable connection between Europe and Africa gathered around 200 people, with a significant institutional representation, including the Moroccan Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, the Spanish Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, Enrique Ojeda; the President of the Algeciras Bay Port Authority, Gerardo Landaluce; the President of the Tangier City Port, Mohamed Ouanaya; the Secretary General of Air and Maritime Transport of the Government of Spain, Benito Nuñez; the President of the Council of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Region, Omar Moro; among other authorities.