Baleària to launch its third natural gas ferry in September
10 September, 2025Baleària is making progress in the construction of its new natural gas fast ferry, the Mercedes Pinto, which is scheduled to be launched on 19 September at the Armón Shipyard in Gijón. This is the third high-speed vessel propelled by natural gas for the shipping company, after the Eleanor Roosevelt (2021) and the Margarita Salas (2023), and is part of the company's strategy to create a more sustainable and efficient fleet.
With a length of 123 metres and capacity for 1,200 passengers and 425 vehicles, the Mercedes Pinto will have two lounge decks, pet-friendly areas, exclusive spaces for children and several cafeterias both inside and on the terrace. The hull structure is complete, and the gas tanks, engines, propulsion systems, electrical wiring and piping are now being installed.
The vessel, which will be operational in 2026, will be Baleària's twelfth with dual natural gas engines, also prepared to use biomethane or green hydrogen mixtures. Its name pays tribute to the Canarian writer Mercedes Pinto, noted for her activism in favour of civil rights and the modernisation of laws such as divorce.