Spanish operator Baleària has launched Mercedes Pinto, its third 123-metre dual-fuel Ro-Pax fast ferry designed by Incat Crowther and built by Astilleros Armon Gijon S.A. in Spain.
Interior fit-out work is now underway, with sea trials scheduled for early 2026.
The new vessel follows the success of sister ships Eleanor Roosevelt and Margarita Salas. Margarita Salas entered service in 2024 on the busy Barcelona–Mallorca–Menorca route, while Eleanor Roosevelt has been operating between Denia, Ibiza and Mallorca since 2021.
With capacity for 1,200 passengers and 425 vehicles, Mercedes Pinto builds on the proven platforms of its predecessors with a series of refinements.
These include an additional passenger deck with a bow lounge, a larger aft terrace with an outdoor bar, a redesigned atrium, enhanced VIP lounge seating, and an elongated crew area behind the wheelhouse. Onboard amenities include two decks of lounge seating, multiple cafeterias, a children’s area, free internet, a digital entertainment system, and a pet surveillance service.
The vessel is powered by dual-fuel LNG engines and can be retrofitted to run on methanol in the future.
It also incorporates energy efficiency systems, smart sensors, emissions monitoring, and advanced real-time navigation, reinforcing Baleària’s sustainability and digitalisation drive.
Named after Spanish writer and human rights activist Mercedes Pinto, the new ferry is expected to enter service in 2026.
