 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping, transportation |
| Founded | June 1998 (1998-06) |
| Headquarters | Dénia, Alicante, Spain |
Area served | Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Spain, Morocco, Grand Bahama, Florida (USA) |
Key people | Adolfo Utor, CEO |
| Services | Passenger transportation, Freight transportation |
| Revenue | 652,000,000 euro (2023)  |
Number of employees |  2,500 (2023)[1] |
| Parent | Baleària Eurolíneas Marítimas S.A. |
| Website | www |
Baleària is the trading name of the Spanish shipping company Baleària Eurolíneas Marítimas S.A. The company operates passenger ferry services in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.[2]
History
In August 2025, Baleària reached an agreement with Naviera Armas to take over its and Trasmediterranea's operations in the Canary Islands and the Alboran Sea, as well as some across the Strait of Gibraltar. The company would receive control of 15 ferries, several routes, and staff. This was subject to approval from the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) of Spain.[3]
In March 2026, the CNMC approved the deal, but highlighted competition risks in the Canary Islands. Baleària was forced to both end a joint ownership agreement with Fred Olsen Express for the route between Huelva and the Canary Islands and reopen the route between Morro Jable and Las Palmas.[4]
In May 2026, Baleària took over the operations in the Canary Islands under the Baleària Canarias brand.[5]
Routes
In the Mediterranean region, Baleària provides domestic ferry services within Spain to the Balearic Islands from the ports of Dénia, Valencia and Barcelona. The company also operates international services across the Strait of Gibraltar, connecting Algeciras with Ceuta and Tangier.
In North America, Baleària operates regular international ferry services between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, and Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, and Bimini in the Bahamas.[6][7] The company operates in the U.S. under the name Baleària Caribbean.[8]
Fleet
Current vessels
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As of December 2024, Baleària operates a fleet of 34 vessels:
| Name | Built | Entered service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abel Matutes | 2010 | 2010 | Named after politician Abel Matutes |
| Avemar Dos | 1997 | 2008 | |
| Bahama Mama | 2010 | 2010 | ex. SF Alhucemas; sister ship of Ciudad de Mahón |
| Cap de Barbaria | 2023 | 2023 | |
| Cecilia Payne | 1999 | 2018 | Named after astronomer Cecilia Payne |
| Ciudad de Mahón | 2008 | 2024 | On charter from Trasmed; sister ship to Bahama Mama |
| Dénia Ciutat Creativa | 1992 | 2016 | |
| Eco Aire | 2018 | 2018 | |
| Eco Aqua | 2018 | 2018 | |
| Eco Lux | 2018 | 2018 | |
| Eco Terra | 2018 | 2018 | |
| Eleanor Roosevelt | 2021 | 2021 | Named after Eleanor Roosevelt |
| Formentera Direct | 1987 | 2014 | |
| Hedy Lamarr | 2010 | 2011 | Named after actress/inventor Hedy Lamarr. |
| Hypatia de Alejandría | 2019 | 2019 | Named after scientist Hypatia; sister ship to Marie Curie |
| Jaume I | 1994 | 2005 | Named after King James I of Majorca |
| Jaume II | 1996 | 2006 | Operated under Baleària Caribbean.[9] Named after King James II of Majorca |
| Jaume III | 1996 | 2007 | Named after King James III of Majorca |
| Josefina de la Torre | 2023 | 2026 | Named after poet Josefina de la Torre[10] |
| Kerry | 2001 | 2019 | |
| Margarita Salas | 2023 | 2024 | Named after scientist Margarita Salas |
| Marie Curie | 2019 | 2019 | Named after physicist Marie Curie; sister ship to Hypatia de Alejandría |
| Martín i Soler | 2008 | 2008 | Named after composer Martín y Soler |
| Mercedes Pinto | 2025 | 2026 | Operated under Baleària Canarias.[11] Named after writer Mercedes Pinto |
| Nápoles | 2002 | 2015 | Sister ship to Sicilia |
| Nixe | 2004 | 2004 | |
| Passió Per Formentera | 2009 | 2009 | |
| Pepita Castellví | 2010 | 2026 | Operated under Baleària Canarias.[11] Named after oceanographer Josefina Castellví |
| Poeta López Anglada | 1984 | 2012 | |
| Ramón Llull | 2003 | 2003 | Named after humanist Ramon Llull |
| Regina Baltica | 1980 | 2015 | |
| Rosalind Franklin | 1989 | 2025 | Named after scientist Rosalind Franklin |
| Rusadir | 2018 | 2023[12] | |
| Sicilia | 2002 | 2015 | Sister ship to Nápoles |
| Tom Sawyer | 2001 | 2023 | |
| Volcán de Tagoro | 2019 | 2026 | Operated under Baleària Canarias.[11] |
| Volcán de Taidía | 2021 | 2026 | Operated under Baleària Canarias.[11] |
| Volcán de Tamadaba | 2007 | 2026 | Operated under Baleària Canarias.[11] |
| Volcán de Teno | 2000 | 2026 | [13] |
| Volcán de Tinamar | 2011 | 2026 | Operated under Baleària Canarias.[14] |
| Volcán de Tindaya | 2003 | 2026 | Operated under Baleària Canarias.[15] |
| Volcán de Tirajana | 2006 | 2026 | Operated under Baleària Canarias.[11] |
| Virot | 1973 | 2016 | |
| Visborg | 2000 | 2023 | On charter from Destination Gotland |
| Wasa Express | 1981 | 2022 | On charter from United Marine Egypt (UME) |
In 2025, Baleària launched the fast ferry Mercedes Pinto, its third vessel equipped with dual-fuel natural gas engines.[16][17]
Past vessels
- HSC Al Sabini
- MS Bahia de Malaga - Sold to Kada Denizcilik Turism, renamed Med Dream
- MS Bahia de Ceuta - Sold to Nova Ferries, renamed Ilha Azul
- MS Borja
- MS Borja Dos
- MS Breant
- MS Clipper Racer
- MS Espalmador
- HSC Federico Garía Lorca - Sold to Conferry, renamed San Francisco de Asís
- MS Guido
- MS Hoburgen
- MS Isla de Botafoc - Sold to Ventouris Ferries, renamed Bari
- MS Isla de Ibiza
- MS Meloodia
- HSC Nixe 2 - Sold to Excalibur International Marine, renamed Ocean Lala
- MS Pau Casals
- MS Posidonia - Sold to Caremar, renamed "Nereide"
- MS Rólon Sur
- MS Sonia
- HSC Maverick Dos
- HSC Pinar del Rio - crashed in Denia in August 2019, scrapped.
- MS Posidonia sold to Medmar in 2023
Incidents
On 16 February 2012, the high-speed ferry Maverick Dos ran aground while on passage from Ibiza Town to Formentera. The vessel was carrying 21 passengers and 6 crew members at the time. There was one injury, but all passengers and crew were safely evacuated.[18]
References
- C. Álvarez, Ángel (7 March 2024). "Baleària factura 652 millones pero reduce beneficio un 40% por la inversión en barcos y el euríbor". El Economista (Spain). Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- Seville, Richard (2009). Mediterranean Ferries. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 9781871947984.
- "Baleària finalises the agreement to acquire Armas Trasmediterránea". Shippax. 2025-08-25. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
- Bosworth, Alan (2026-03-31). "Spain's competition regulator approves Balearia acquisition of Armas assets". Baird Maritime. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
- "Baleària takes effective control of Armas Trasmediterránea in the Canary Islands". Shippax. 2026-05-18. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
- "Baleària gets what's left of Armas Trasmediterránea". Ship2Shore (in Italian). Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- Capuzzo, Nicola (25 August 2025). "Naviera Armas hands over routes and ships to DFDS and Baleària, one ferry to Liberty Lines". Shipping Italy (in Italian). Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- "Caribbean Sea Ferry Route Map". ferryroutes.com. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- "Baleària Caribbean to introduce JAUME II". Shippax. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- Díaz Lorenzo, Juan Carlos (2 June 2026). "The roll-on ship "Josefina de la Torre" prepares at Cernaval for its debut on the Cádiz-Canarias route". Puente de Mando. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- "Baleària Canarias unveils summer programme with 12-ship fleet to boost inter-island links". Shippax. 2 June 2026. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- "Brittany Ferries' cancelled Honfleur as Baleària's Rusadir". niferry.co.uk - News and Information Ferry Site. 2023-04-16. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
- Díaz Lorenzo, Juan Carlos (2 June 2026). "The catamaran "Volcán de Teno" will leave La Gomera and cover the Algeciras-Ceuta route starting June 17". Puente de Mando. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- Díaz Lorenzo, Juan Carlos (8 June 2026). "The ferry "Volcán de Tinamar" from Baleària Canarias will leave the Navantia Cádiz dry dock tomorrow for sea trials". Puente de Mando. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- Díaz Lorenzo, Juan Carlos (29 May 2026). "The ferry "Volcán de Tindaya" returns to the Playa Blanca-Corralejo line painted with the image of Baleària Canarias". Puente de Mando. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- Camiolo, Marina (19 September 2025). "Baleària estrena en Gijón el fast ferry 'Mercedes Pinto': cómo seguir en directo la botadura". La Voz de Ibiza (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- M. Pardo, J. (September 19, 2025). "Armón bota en Gijón el 'Mercedes Pinto', tercer 'fast ferry' construido para Baleària" (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- Hancock, Paul. "Maverick Dos - Shipwreck Log". Shipwreck Log. shipwrecklog.com. Retrieved 29 October 2021.