June 1, 2024. The Margarita Salas of Baleària has carried out the first navigation tests, which are part of the final phase of the construction of the ship, which the shipping company expects to receive at the end of June. It is the second fast ferry with dual natural gas engines in the world that is being built at the Armón shipyard in Gijón.
The high-speed ship Margarita Salas will connect Mallorca, Menorca and Barcelona daily and throughout the year. This ship, which has involved an investment of 126 million euros, stands out for its sustainability when sailing on natural gas and also for the comfort and features on board.
The Margarita Salas has capacity for 1,200 passengers and 450 vehicles, just like its sister Eleanor Roosevelt, but it adds a second passenger deck with a lounge of seats, so that it gains spaciousness in the interior spaces. In addition, the aft terrace is larger and a more comfortable model of seats is included in the VIP lounge. The interior design and digitalized services are focused on guaranteeing a unique onboard experience. Passengers will be able to travel in different accommodations and enjoy services such as a cafeteria, shop, children’s area with interactive games, internet access and free instant messaging coverage throughout the journey, digital boarding pass with seat assignment, free entertainment platform or acclimatized pet area with video surveillance.
Inspired by the sustainability and innovation of its counterpart Eleanor Roosevelt, the Margarita Salas has the same dimensions (123 meters in length and 28 meters in beam) and increases power by 10% thanks to the four dual natural gas engines of 9,600 kW. Like its predecessor, it has two azimuthal propellers to improve maneuverability when docking, a stabilization system that reduces movement and improves comfort, and technological innovations to minimize vibrations and noise.
In addition, it has the OPS (Onshore Power Supply) system for electrical connection to ground during its stays in port and measurement equipment to monitor real fuel consumption or calculate the efficiency of the engines, among other functionalities. The ship has two natural gas tanks, which provide a range of approximately 470 miles sailing on gas, and a total range of 1,000 miles.
