AYK Energy Wins Contract for First Electric Intercontinental Fast Ferries

Marine battery manufacturer AYK Energy has won a contract to power the world’s first fully electric intercontinental fast ferries between Europe and Africa.

Spanish ferry operator Baleària will operate the two catamaran ferries solely on electric propulsion throughout the 18-mile voyage between Tarifa in the south of Spain and Tangier, Morocco at speeds of up to 26 knots.

The twin fast ferries, which are being built by the Armon shipyard in Gijón, will have a capacity of 225 vehicles and 804 passengers.

Each ferry will have 13.8MWh of electric power produced by four electric propulsion units fueled by the batteries. A system of autonomous robotic arms installed in Tangier and Tarifa will connect to onshore power supplies and enable the batteries to be recharged in 40 minutes.