Spain | October 2, 2025 – In a bold stride toward maritime decarbonization, Spanish shipping company Baleària has begun operating three of its vessels exclusively on bioLNG, a move that eliminates CO₂ emissions and positions the company as a leader in sustainable shipping. This pioneering initiative, underway since early September 2025, marks a historic milestone in the transition to clean maritime energy, making Baleària the first ferry operator in Europe to power ships entirely with bioLNG—a renewable fuel with a negative carbon footprint.
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Zero-Emission Routes: A Blueprint for the Future
The three vessels—fast ferry Margarita Salas, ferry Abel Matutes, and ferry Rusadir—are now sailing emission-free on strategically important Mediterranean routes:
- Margarita Salas and Abel Matutes serve the Barcelona–Alcudia–Ciutadella corridor.
- Rusadir connects Málaga with Melilla, providing vital maritime links between the mainland and the autonomous city.
All three ships are equipped with dual-fuel engines, a strategic investment made by Baleària in recent years to future-proof its fleet for renewable fuel integration.
132 GWh of BioLNG Purchased — 13% of 2024’s Total LNG Use
To support this transformation, Baleària has secured 132 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of bioLNG, enough to power these vessels until December 2025. Notably, this volume represents 13% of the total LNG consumption by Baleària’s gas-powered fleet in 2024—a significant share concentrated in just four months of supply.
Negative Carbon Footprint: Environmental Impact Beyond Zero
Unlike traditional fossil fuels, bioLNG—produced from biomethane derived from livestock waste—captures methane from the atmosphere, turning a harmful greenhouse gas into a usable, renewable energy source. The biomethane is liquefied into bioLNG through pioneering conversion processes at Enagás regasification plants in Barcelona, Huelva, and Cartagena.
The environmental benefits are profound:
- 80,300 tons of CO₂ emissions avoided between September and December 2025.
- Equivalent to removing 153,500 cars from the roads.
- Equal to the effect of planting 160,650 trees annually.
Because bioLNG production prevents methane release and replaces fossil fuels, it offers greenhouse gas savings exceeding 200%—achieving what experts describe as a “negative carbon balance”.
CEO Statement: “Real, Verifiable Progress Toward Net Zero”
“The use of bioLNG on our regular routes represents real and verifiable progress in our commitment to achieving net-zero emissions,” said Georges Bassoul, CEO of Baleària. “The investments made in recent years in our fleet to incorporate dual-engine fuels allow us to use this renewable fuel, which prevents the release of greenhouse gases and accelerates decarbonization.”
This transition is not a one-off. It builds on a foundation of innovation dating back to 2021, when Baleària executed Europe’s first decarbonized voyage between Barcelona and Menorca. In early 2025, the company also conducted Spain’s first bioLNG bunkering operations at port terminals—laying the groundwork for this larger-scale deployment.
Europe’s First Ferry Operator with ISCC EU Certification
Baleària has further distinguished itself by becoming the first ferry company in Europe to obtain the ISCC EU (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification). This globally recognized certification ensures:
- Full traceability of biofuels used
- Verification of emissions savings
- Compliance with EU sustainability standards
The certification is backed by the Proof of Sustainability (PoS) system, which authenticates the origin, volume, and carbon performance of bioLNG used in operations.
This new ISCC status adds to the company’s existing credentials, including the Green Maritime Europe label, reinforcing its leadership in transparent and verified decarbonization efforts within the maritime industry.
Charting the Course Toward a Cleaner Maritime Future
Baleària’s exclusive use of bioLNG on select routes is more than a technical achievement—it’s a clear signal to the global shipping sector that scalable, renewable marine fuels are not a vision of the distant future but a practical solution today.
With mounting pressure from regulators, customers, and investors to decarbonize, Baleària offers a working model of how to combine technological readiness, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship in commercial ferry operations.
The company’s forward-thinking approach underscores a broader shift in maritime energy—one where renewables like bioLNG are poised to play a leading role in achieving net-zero shipping, well ahead of the IMO’s 2050 targets.
About Baleària
Baleària is the leading Spanish shipping company specializing in the maritime transportation of passengers, vehicles, and goods. Founded in June 1998 and headquartered in Dénia, Alicante, Spain, the company is a benchmark for sustainability and innovation in the sector.
Key Information:
- Primary Business: Scheduled maritime transport of passengers, vehicles, and goods (ferry services).
- Geographic Focus: The company is the market leader in connections between mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands (and inter-island connections), as well as routes to the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla. Internationally, it operates services to North Africa (Morocco and Algeria) and connects the USA and the Bahamas (as Baleària Caribbean).
- Fleet & Scale (Approximate Figures):
- Fleet Size: Around 40 vessels.
- Routes: Operates approximately 28 routes connecting 5 countries.
- Passenger Traffic (2024): 5.6 million passengers.
- Cargo Traffic (2024): 7.6 million linear meters of cargo.
- Pioneering in Sustainability & Bunkering:
- Baleària is a pioneer in the use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a marine fuel in the Spanish market, with an investment of over €500 million in dual-fuel engine ships.
- The company is actively testing and adopting renewable fuels, notably moving ships to run on bioLNG to further reduce its carbon footprint.
- It is committed to the goal of zero emissions by 2050 and is developing projects like the first fully electric, zero-emission intercontinental ferry route (Tarifa-Tangier Ville), set to launch new electric fast ferries.
- Its sustainability strategy includes building a modern, eco-efficient fleet, with an overall planned investment of €1 billion in a sustainable fleet between 2017 and 2028.
- Recent Developments: The company has recently been expanding its Spanish maritime network through the agreement to acquire core business operations of Armas Trasmediterránea, pending regulatory approval.
Source: Baleària Group