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Gas Natural Fenosa has carried out the first delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to a ferry at the port of Barcelona, Spain.

The truck-to-ship supply of LNG to the Balearia-operated Abel Matutes was completed on Sunday.

The delivery forms part of a supply contract signed by both companies and is the first operation of this type to be carried out in Barcelona within the city's Air Quality Improvement Plan (Plan para la Mejora de la Calidad del Aire de Barcelona, or Pla per la Millora de la Qualitat de l'Aire de Barcelona (PMQAB)).

Once the relevant tests have been carried out, the Abel Matutes will be able to start operating with its auxiliary natural gas engine along the Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca route on a daily basis.

The 190-metre-long ferry's new auxiliary gas engine is fully integrated with its electrical plant. A 30-cubic-metre LNG tank is used for storage.

"With this joint project with Balearia, and in close collaboration with the Port of Barcelona, Gas Natural Fenosa continues to promote the use of natural gas as an alternative fuel for the transport of people and goods, helping to improve air quality and replacing more pollutants," commented Daniel Lopez Jorda, General Director of Retail Business at Gas Natural Fenosa.

"With this project we take the first effective step in our commitment to the use of this fuel, which will also be the one that will propel the smart ship we are building. This makes Balearia the pioneer shipping company in the use of LNG in Spain," said Adolfo Utor, Balearia's president.

The initiative forms part of the European Union's (EU) Cleanport project and is co-financed by the EU through the CEF-Transport programme, which includes, together with Gas Natural Fenosa and Balearia, the ports of Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca and the General Directorate of The Merchant Navy.

For the Port of Barcelona, the project is designed to encourage the use of LNG for ships, trucks and terminal machinery.