Baleària’s LNG-fuelled fast ferry ’Eleanor Roosevelt’ has started her sea trials, according to the ferry company’s blog.
The trials, which are being conducted in conjunction with her builder Gijon’s Armon shipyard, have commenced using of diesel fuel. She is expected to run on LNG during the trials.
She is expected to be delivered to Baleària at the end of this month, Baleària said.
Baleària claimed that ‘Eleanor Roosevelt’ will be the world’s longest fast ferry, having a length of 123 m and a 28 m beam. She will be able to carry 1,200 pax and will have 500 lane m for trucks and room for 250 cars.
Revealing its annual results, Baleària said that it had maintained a positive EBITDA of more than €60 mill for 2020, despite a 24% drop in turnover and losses of more than €15 mill.
The travelling restrictions caused significant declines in all types of traffic: -52% for passengers and -6% in the transport of goods.
Baleària has managed to temper the impact of the health crisis on its 2020 results thanks to efficient and dynamic management, adapted to the continuous fluctuations in the market, and the diversification of its business areas (passenger and cargo) and routes, which were affected in different ways, the company claimed.
“The mobility restrictions caused significant drops in all traffic types and resulted in a negative outcome, which means our solvency has been reduced and our debt has risen, but we have resisted thanks to the strength of our assets and finances, the consequence of many years of hard work,” said Adolfo Utor, Baleària’s Chairman.
Spanish national routes accounted for almost 94% of passengers, with variations depending on the area: in Ceuta and Melilla traffic plummeted by 60%, in the Balearic Islands the fall was 30%, but in contrast, the Canary Islands routes recorded growth of 20%.
Baleària said it was continually adapting its schedules and routes in a flexible and reactive manner, according to demand.
International routes were affected by border closures and the cancellation of Operation Strait of Gibraltar, with a drop in passenger numbers of 85%.
Despite the situation, Baleària repatriated European citizens by opening a new international route between Morocco and France, in addition to almost 50 special operations co-ordinated with various governments.
