Marrakech – Spanish maritime company Baleària presented a groundbreaking project in Tangier on Tuesday for an electric maritime connection between the northern Moroccan city and Tarifa. The initiative will deploy two zero-emission “fast ferries” scheduled to begin service in 2027.
The project presentation ceremony took place with several high-ranking officials in attendance, including Morocco’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, and Spain’s Ambassador to Morocco, Enrique Ojeda.
Other notable attendees included the president of the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras, the president of Tangier City Port, the Spanish Secretary General for Air and Maritime Transport, and the president of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council.
This public-private partnership aims to establish a “green corridor” between Europe and Africa, enabling a completely electric, CO2-free crossing between the two shores of the Strait of Gibraltar. The project encompasses the construction of twin vessels in Spain and the installation of necessary electrical charging infrastructure in both Tangier and Tarifa ports.
In a statement to MAP, Kayouh said that strengthening the maritime fleet is part of a broader strategy to ensure smooth and sustainable mobility, particularly during Operation Marhaba, supervised by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity.
He noted that the ministry is supporting this operation by mobilizing approximately 29 ships with a weekly capacity of 500,000 passengers and 130,000 vehicles, operating through four Moroccan ports and twelve European ports.
“Our goal is to provide the maximum number of vessels to meet growing demand and ensure the best crossing conditions for Moroccans living abroad,” Kayouh stated.
Baleària Director General Georges Bassoul detailed that each vessel will develop 16 MW of electric power generated by four electric propellers powered by batteries with a capacity of 11,500 kWh. This configuration will allow the ships to complete the entire crossing using only electric propulsion without generating emissions.
During a technical presentation, Bassoul said these will be completely decarbonized journeys, meeting 2050 objectives as early as 2027. He explained that electric propulsion will eliminate not only emissions but also noise and vibrations.
Each ship will be equipped with four diesel backup generators with a total power of 11,200 kW, designed for potential emergency situations. The complete recharging of the fast ferries’ batteries will occur during the scheduled one-hour stopover in each city.
Storage systems with 8 MWh gross batteries will be installed in both ports, supplementing the land-based electricity supply of 5 MW in Tarifa and 8 MW in Tangier. Bassoul added that the vessels will be charged by two innovative autonomous robotic arms capable of recharging the batteries necessary for crossing in just 40 minutes.
The twin vessels will be 25 meters wide with a capacity for 804 passengers and 225 vehicles, reaching a maximum speed of 26 knots. Passenger comfort will be enhanced by spacious, well-lit interiors with numerous amenities and a T-Foil system that reduces the ship’s vertical movement.
The ferries will feature high maneuverability thanks to deck fins, two bow thrusters, and four rudders. They will also be equipped with two high-capacity ramps at the stern, designed for faster operations and maneuvers during port stays.
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