Elval provides the aluminium for the pioneering LNG-powered, high-speed catamaran, Margarita Salas.
Baleària has recently unveiled its latest addition, the LNG-powered, high-speed catamaran Margarita Salas, built at the Armon Shipyard in Gijón, Spain. Elval, the aluminium rolling division of ElvalHalcor SA, has a long-standing business partnership with Armon Shipyard.
The pioneering catamaran was named after Margarita Salas, an exceptional educator, and a pioneering scientist in molecular biology. This remarkable vessel combines the most competitive features of its predecessor, the world’s longest dual gas engines fast ferry Eleanor Roosevelt, enhanced with a series of innovations in design and engineering. Margarita Salas is equipped with four dual-fuel 9,600 kW engines running on natural gas, allowing it to reach a speed of 35 knots, 10% more power than the Eleanor Roosevelt. The impressive ship has two LNG tanks, which give it a range of 470 miles on gas, and an overall range of 1,000 miles. It measures 123 metres in length and can accommodate 1,200 passengers and 400 cars on its car deck.
The new catamaran is the eleventh in Baleària’s fleet of ships equipped with dual gas engines. Adolfo Utor, president of Baleària said: “These ships are currently fueled by natural gas, but in the future, they will be able to consume renewable CO2-neutral energies. Our investment of more than EUR 500 million in this fleet allows us to use the best fuel available today, which cuts emissions even further, and sets us up for decarbonisation in the future.” Indeed, the sister ship of Margarita Salas, the fast ferry Eleanor Roosevelt, emitted 11,000 tonnes of CO2 less in the year 2023 thanks to running on natural gas.
Armon Shipyard Group co-president Laudelino Alperi said “This new vessel is another step towards excellence in shipbuilding in Spain, where aluminium is the key ingredient. This material offers advantages such as being lighter in weight which, as a result, reduces fuel consumption and helps to lower the ship’s carbon footprint. Aluminium is a highly recyclable material, which facilitates its reuse at the end of the vessel’s useful life.”
Babis Chaikos, Elval’s Commercial Senior Director commented “Elval has 50 years of expertise in tailor-made, flat-rolled aluminium manufacturing and is honoured by its selection as the aluminium supplier for this state-of-the-art vessel. This collaboration emphasizes our commitment to deliver world-class aluminium for marine solutions of exceptional strength, ductility, corrosion resistance and weldability while accelerating the marine industry’s journey towards a low-carbon future.”
Margarita Salas will commence operations in Q3 2024.