en.Wedoany.com Reported - Spanish shipping operator Baleària's third 123-meter dual-fuel RoPax fast ferry, the Mercedes Pinto, has successfully completed its sea trials. Built by the Astilleros Armon shipyard in Gijón, Spain, and designed by Australia's Incat Crowther, the vessel achieved a top speed of 38 knots during trials, with all propulsion and onboard system performance meeting design specifications.
The Mercedes Pinto can carry 1,200 passengers and 425 vehicles and is scheduled to operate in the Canary Islands. The vessel is an iterative design based on the proven platform of its two sister ships, the Eleanor Roosevelt and the Margarita Salas. The Eleanor Roosevelt has been operating on the Dénia to Ibiza and Mallorca route since 2021, while the Margarita Salas has served the Barcelona to Mallorca and Menorca route since 2024.
The new vessel incorporates several design improvements, including a redesigned atrium between the main deck and upper deck, a larger aft deck with outdoor bar service, an additional passenger deck featuring a spacious bow lounge, upgraded seating in the VIP lounge, and an extended crew area behind the wheelhouse. The ship also features a dedicated children's area, multiple self-service restaurants, and digital enhancements, including onboard entertainment and a pet monitoring system.
The Mercedes Pinto is powered by four Wärtsilä 16V31 DF dual-fuel natural gas engines, capable of running on 100% biomethane or a blend with up to 25% green hydrogen. It is equipped with energy efficiency systems, smart sensors, integrated emissions monitoring equipment, and an enhanced real-time navigation system.
Juan Pablo Molina, Baleària's Fleet Technical Director, stated: "The vessel met expectations during sea trials, and we look forward to the Mercedes Pinto entering service soon. This reflects Baleària's commitment to operating a locally built, sustainable, and technologically advanced fleet." Dan Mace, Technical Director at Incat Crowther, commented that the tripartite collaboration delivered a "complex yet high-quality, high-performance vessel" that will provide reliability and passenger comfort in operation.
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