The new ro-pax fast ferry “Mercedes Pinto” has successfully completed its sea trials. The 123 m long dual-fuel newbuild was designed by Incat Crowther and built by Astilleros Armon in Gijón.
Spanish ferry operator Baleària is about to put its new Ro-Pax fast ferry “Mercedes Pinto” into service. According to its designer Incat Crowther, the 123-metre-long vessel has successfully completed sea trials. During the tests, the ferry reached a maximum speed of 38 knots. The propulsion and on-board systems worked according to specifications.
The “Mercedes Pinto” was built by Astilleros Armon in Gijón. It is the third 123 m Ro-Pax fast ferry with dual-fuel propulsion that Incat Crowther has developed for Baleària. The vessel is to be deployed in the Canary Islands, where it will strengthen the archipelago’s connectivity.
The ferry offers space for 1,200 passengers and 425 vehicles. The design is based on the sister ships “Eleanor Roosevelt” and “Margarita Salas”, which are already in service, but has been further developed in several areas. These include a redesigned atrium between the main and upper decks, an enlarged aft terrace with outdoor bar, an additional passenger deck with bow lounge, revised seating areas in the VIP lounge and an extended crew area behind the wheelhouse. Passengers will also enjoy a children’s area, several cafeterias, on-board entertainment and a pet monitoring system.
Dan Mace, Technical Director of Incat Crowther, said: “Baleària, Incat Crowther and Astilleros Armon have delivered a complex, yet high quality and high performance vessel. The sophisticated systems, with a high proportion of components from the European supply chain, and the modern interior design enable the ‘Mercedes Pinto’ to offer reliability and exceptional passenger comfort during operation.”
38 kn top speed: Baleària’s new fast ferry. The new catamaran will be used in the Canary Islands (© Baleària)
Four Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines
Like its sister ships, the “Mercedes Pinto” is also powered by dual-fuel natural gas engines. According to the project partners, the ship is also designed to run on 100% biomethane or green hydrogen blends of up to 25%. The equipment also includes energy efficiency systems, intelligent sensors, integrated emissions monitoring and real-time navigation systems.
Technically, the “Mercedes Pinto” is based on the Incat Crowther 123 design. The fuel capacity is 313,400 liters, plus an LNG capacity of 190 m³. The drive consists of four Wärtsilä 16V31 DF dual-fuel main engines, each with 9,600 kW at 780 rpm. Power is transmitted via four Wärtsilä WXJ-1500 water jet drives. The “Mercedes Pinto” is classified with Bureau Veritas and flies the Cypriot flag.
Juan Pablo Molina, Technical Director of the Baleària fleet, described the successful completion of the sea trials as a milestone. “The ship has met our expectations during the sea trials and we are looking forward to putting the ‘Mercedes Pinto’ into service soon,” said Molina.
