Baleària shipping company, based in Dénia and a world pioneer in the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel, has launched Marie Curie, its new smart ship with LNG engines.
The launching ceremony took place at Cantiere Navale Visentini in Italy. The newbuilding is the company’s first ferry fueled by LNG that will operate in the Mediterranean.
Marie Curie is one of two dual-fuel, gas-powered ferries being built at the yard, located near Venice. The sister vessel, Hypatia de Alejandria, is also nearing completion. Currently, the ferry is in dry dock where an antifouling solution is being applied to the hull.
Hypatia de Alejandría will begin operating at the beginning of next year and Marie Curie a few months later, according to the company.
The investment in the construction of these two 'smart ship's reaches $226 m. They are two sustainable vessels of identical characteristics: 186.5 meters in length, maximum speed of 24 knots and capacity for 810 people, 2,180 linear meters of cargo and 150 vehicles.
In October, Balearia stated that it plans to have at least half of its ferry fleet running on LNG within the next three years, and all of its ships using the gas fuel by 2028.