September 19, 2025. Baleària has launched the Mercedes Pinto fast ferry at the Armon Shipyards in Gijón, its third catamaran with dual natural gas engines and prepared to sail with carbon-neutral fuels. The shipping company is investing €128 million in its construction and expects it to begin operating next summer.
The Mercedes Pinto, measuring 123 meters in length and 28 meters wide, will have capacity for 1,200 passengers and 400 vehicles and a maximum sailing speed of 35 knots, like its sister ships, the Eleanor Roosevelt and the Margarita Salas. This catamaran will contribute to reducing the shipping company’s environmental footprint, as its use of natural gas will allow it to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% and eliminate all sulfur and particulate emissions.
Baleària’s President, Adolfo Utor, emphasized that the construction of this third natural gas catamaran is the result of “the excellent results offered by its sister ships in terms of navigation, comfort, eco-efficiency, and passenger satisfaction.” Utor also highlighted that the Mercedes Pinto represents a further step in the shipping company’s modernization and decarbonization plan: “This catamaran sets the standard for comfort, innovation, and services onboard our new generation of vessels, designed to consume CO2-neutral renewable energy.”
The new vessel will feature four dual natural gas engines, two azimuth propellers to improve maneuverability when docking, and a stabilization system that reduces movement, improves comfort, and minimizes vibrations and noise. The vessel will also be equipped with the OPS (Onshore Power Supply) system for shore power connection and measurement equipment to monitor actual fuel consumption or calculate engine efficiency, among other features.
