Spanish ferry operator, Balearia, has claimed it completed the first LNG bunkering operation for its converted ferry ‘Bahama Mama’ in Algeciras.
Balearia carried out the LNG bunkering operations using a truck-to-ship method on 8th June, the company said.
Last year, Gibraltar’s Gibdock retrofitted the ropax ‘Bahama Mama’ with engine technology to enable her to operate on LNG.
The ferry was due to re-enter service on 21st June, between Barcelona and Ibiza on week days but at weekends switching to Dénia, Ibiza and Palma (Maj).
Her two storage tanks have a capacity of 140 cu m of LNG, each, enabling the ropax to sail for up to 750 nautical miles, Balearia said.
‘Bahama Mama’ is the fifth LNG-powered ferry in the company’s fleet and the third vessel that has been converted to operate on LNG. The company said that it is looking to take re-delivery of another LNG conversion on the ‘Sicilia’ in July.
The ferry operator has scheduled three more retrofits this year and plans to have a fleet of eleven LNG-powered vessels by the end of 2021.
