---

Spanish ferry operator Balearia has 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 meters and the capacity to carry 810 people, 2,180 linear meters of cargo and 150 cars. The total cost of the order is 200 million euros, and 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 Sunday, with Gas Natural Fenosa carrying out the delivery.

Commenting on the new order, Balearia president, Adolfo Utor, said that the two new ferries will allow the shipping company "to guarantee a better service both to passengers and logistics operators, as well as to gain in competitiveness".

Balearia added that the expansion of its LNG-powered fleet to four made it one of the shipping industry's "pioneers" in the use of LNG.