Malaga-Melilla ferry ditches diesel and goes greener

Times are changing, and passenger ships that emit tons of carbon dioxide to move around are gradually making way for others that are much less polluting. Shipping company Baleària, which is a pioneer in the use of new technologies for navigation, has added a new ferry ship from its base in Malaga to serve the north African enclave of Melilla under a state contract.

The newly built ferry Rusadir (which is the name of Melilla in Phoenician times) will start operating from 3 April on this route (and from Almeria, on Saturdays) and uses an electric propulsion system, with two engines powered by natural gas, which emits much less pollution than diesel.

The ship has capacity for 1,670 passengers, as well as 261 cabins, and can hold 2,600 linear metres of roll-on and roll-off cargo on its two hold decks. Baleària has chartered the vessel for an initial period of seven months, with six weekly rotations, as well as a Saturday connection with Almeria.

The Rusadir can reach a top speed of 22 knots, and is equipped with a stabilisation system with hydraulically operated retractable flaps to prevent oscillation and improve passenger comfort. It also features technical innovations that minimise noise and vibration.

The state-of-the-art vessel can be seen at Pier 3 at Malaga port from Easter Week. It is 187 metres long and 31 metres wide, and has been built between Germany, Norway and Poland. Its engines can alternate fuel and natural gas consumption. With this latest addition, Baleària has a fleet of 11 vessels equipped with this technology, including new constructions.