July 7, 2023. In recent weeks, Baleària has increased the consumption of natural gas by one hundred percent in its ten ships equipped with dual engines. The firm estimates that this will allow it to stop emitting close to 80,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere between June 1 and the end of the year. In October 2021, to avoid losing competitiveness, the company continued to use this cleaner energy only for entrances, approaches and stays in port.
It should be noted that, despite the temporary reduction in the use of gas due to the adverse context, Baleària has maintained its commitment to this fuel, which allows CO2 emissions to be reduced by up to 30%. Thus, it has incorporated two more ships that can navigate on gas, already in 2022 the retrofit of the Hedy Lamarr was completed and this spring it has chartered the Rusadir, a cruise ferry equipped with an electric propulsion system powered by dual natural gas engines. In addition, it is building the Margarita Salas fast ferry, an improved second unit of the innovative Eleanor Roosevelt fast ferry. In total there are eleven ships with dual engines, a versatile technology that allows them to navigate with different fuels, including natural gas, an energy that Baleària considers transitional as it is the cleanest and most mature that currently exists for maritime transport. In addition, these ships are technologically prepared to consume 100% biomethane or synthetic methane, as well as green hydrogen mixtures of up to 25%, although these CO2-neutral renewable energies are currently unfeasible due to costs and availability.
