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Shipping line Balearia has highlighted the construction of three liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ferries in its seventh 'Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report', which was presented on Thursday.

The Spanish ferry operator says it is committed to the 'smart maritime' concept to drive forward eco-efficiency and sustainable development for the growth of its business and that the construction of three cruise ferries powered by natural gas, which will reduce emissions, forms part of the firm's eco strategy.

As previously reported by Bunker Index in February, Balearia ordered two new, dual-fuel, gas-powered ferries to be built at the Cantiere Navale Visentini shipyard in Italy. Each ferry will have a length of 186.5 metres and the capacity to carry 810 people, 2,180 linear meters of cargo and 150 cars. The vessels are expected to be operational by the end of 2018.

It brings Balearia's total number of LNG-fuelled ferries to four. Last year, the Spanish firm ordered its first newbuild LNG-powered ro-ro ferry from Construcciones Navales del Norte SL (LaNaval) shipyard in Sestao, Spain. Wartsila is to carry out the design and supply of the LNG power and propulsion installation. When it enters into regular service in 2019, it is set to be the largest ferry in operation in the Mediterranean.

Balearia's other LNG-fuelled ferry, the 2010-built Abel Matutes, was retrofitted with a 30-cubic-metre LNG storage tank and an auxiliary natural gas engine built by Rolls-Royce. The 190-metre-long vessel was refuelled with LNG for the first time in Barcelona on January 29, with Gas Natural Fenosa carrying out the delivery.

Speaking on Thursday, the shipping line's chairman, Adolfo Utor, said the new Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report was "an exercise in responsibility and transparency before our different stakeholders", whilst adding that the guiding principle behind Balearia is its 'three C' culture: "We take responsible decisions and actions out of Conviction, Consistency with our aims, and the Compulsion to continue properly managing legal risks."

Utor explained that the shipping line has underpinned its "commitment to sustainability by espousing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)", and that the SDGs have become a route map for Balearia "with the challenge of running an effective business while contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic growth".

In 2016, Balearia's fleet of 25 ships sailed 1,045,000 nautical miles on all its routes - 13 percent more than the previous year - as a result of the increased service offering on some sailings, and the opening of new crossings. The fleet's Eco-efficiency Index was 0.17 kg CO2/tonne per nautical mile covered.

The company's 18 routes in 2016 covered the Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, Morocco, Algeria the Caribbean.

Image: Adolfo Utor, chairman of Balearia, speaking at the presentation of the company's seventh Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report.