Balearia Achieves LNG Bunkering Milestone in Barcelona

For the first time in Spain, a shipping company has successfully fueled three of its vessels with LNG on the same day and in the same port.

Balearia announced on May 14 that it had completed this groundbreaking bunkering operation at the Port of Barcelona, underscoring its ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and lowering emissions.

The operation required the coordination of eight bunker tankers to refuel three different ships in Balearia’s fleet. The Fast Ferry Margarita Salas, Ferry Martin I Soler, and Ferry Bahama Mama collectively received 2,320 megawatt-hours of liquefied natural gas.

Specifically, three tankers refueled the Margarita Salas simultaneously, while two others bunkered the Martin I Soler. The final three tankers handled the refueling of the Bahama Mama, all within a single day.

Balearia highlighted the historic nature of the operation, noting it as the first time in Spanish maritime history that three LNG bunkering operations had been carried out on the same day within the same port.

The company also emphasized its increasing investment in LNG, revealing a 184% growth in LNG usage during 2024 so far. This shift has led to a 10% reduction in carbon emissions per passenger, reflecting Balearia’s expanding focus on greener operations.