State-of-the-art batteries and ultra-fast charging: this is the first electric ferry connecting Europe with Africa.

Maritime transport is firmly joining the race for decarbonization. And it does so with a milestone of enormous symbolic significance: for the first time, two continents will be connected by a zero-emission maritime route. The maritime connection between Europe and Africa is about to undergo an unprecedented technological and environmental revolution.

The shipping company Baleària has announced the launch of the world's first intercontinental green corridor, linking the cities of Tarifa and Tangier (Morocco). This highly sought-after route will be served by two new, fully electric fast ferries, pioneers of their kind worldwide, marking a turning point in maritime passenger and vehicle transport.

The two sister ships, currently in the design phase, will be 87 meters long and have the capacity to carry up to 800 passengers and 225 vehicles per trip. What makes them truly revolutionary is their fully electric propulsion system powered by state-of-the-art lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries.

This technology offers greater thermal safety, reduced degradation, and a longer lifespan. It will be supplied by AYK Energy, an Andorra-based firm specializing in solutions for the maritime sector. Each vessel will have a capacity of 13.8 MWh, and its batteries can be recharged ultra-fast in just 40 minutes thanks to automated robotic arms that will connect the ferry to the mainland power grid.

Both ferries are scheduled to enter operation within three years, although Baleària is already making progress on its roadmap toward sustainability. It currently operates several dual-fuel vessels (LNG-diesel) and has begun successful trials with biogas, an even more environmentally friendly alternative to liquefied natural gas.

The initiative is part of Baleària's decarbonization plan, which has set the goal of achieving net-zero emissions on all its routes by 2050. The electrification of short, high-demand routes, such as the Strait of Gibraltar, is presented as a key step on this path toward cleaner maritime mobility.

The distance between Tarifa and Tangier is just under 30 kilometers, but it represents the first intercontinental link operated entirely by electric power. Furthermore, this new route is 50% longer than the one currently served by the Margarita Salas, one of Baleària's most advanced dual-purpose ferries, highlighting the technological advancement of the new project.

At a time when sustainable mobility is no longer an option but a necessity, projects like this demonstrate that the energy transition is also possible at sea. And what seems like a pioneering experiment today could tomorrow become the new standard for crossing borders without leaving a carbon footprint.