Electric Ferry Service to Connect Tangier with Tarifa, Spain

Sunday 12 January 2025 - 12:58

The Spanish ferry company Balearia is preparing to equip the port of Tangier with an electric charging station for its vessels. The company has completed the submission of the necessary documentation after winning the concession for the Tarifa-Tangier City route, which will operate with two electric ferries. A final decision on the contract is expected to be made between January and February.

Balearia is awaiting approval from the Port Authority's Board of Directors in Algeciras Bay to begin operations on the Tarifa-Tangier City route. This route, which will be fully operated by electric vessels, marks a significant step as the first emission-free connection between the two continents, according to the Port Authority.

Although the start date for operations has not been set yet, Balearia has completed the required documentation after winning the bidding process. The Port Authority is currently reviewing the information, and the board is expected to make its decision between January and February.

The current operator of the route, the Danish company FRS-DFDS, which contested the awarding of the contract to its competitor, continues to sell tickets until February 28. Balearia, on the other hand, plans to execute a “swift” transition once the board grants approval. The company already has staff in the region due to its operations on the Algeciras-Ceuta and Algeciras-Tangier Med routes. Additionally, Balearia has expressed its intention to integrate part of FRS-DFDS's workforce.

For the final operation of the route, Balearia will invest €122 million to build two fast electric ferries at the Armon shipyard in Gijón. The vessels will have a capacity of 804 passengers and 225 cars, a length of 87 meters, and will operate under the Spanish flag. However, the estimated time for their construction is over two years. In the meantime, the company will temporarily use two of its current fast ferries.

During this transitional period, Balearia will carry out the necessary work to install the electric charging infrastructure at the ports of Tarifa and Tangier City. These facilities will allow the new electric ferries to charge their batteries, ensuring operation with zero emissions.