New ferry route launched connecting Barcelona and Balearic Islands
Vessels will have capacity for a thousand passengers and 2,500 meters of hold
An Italian shipping company has set up new routes connecting Barcelona with the Balearic Islands.
The first ship of Grandi Navi Veloci that will make this daily route, the GNV Bridge, set sail this Tuesday evening heading to the capital of Mallorca, Palma. It will also operate a route between Palma and Ibiza three times a week.
The ferry is newly built, has capacity for 1,000 passengers, 2,564 linear meters of garage space, and is capable of a cruising speed of 24 knots, as well as a restaurant, buffet, and 157 cabins.
The presentation of the new ferry line was also the official debut of the former territory minister Damià Calvet as the new president of the port authority. "We welcome the commitment to strengthen the relationship with the Balearic Islands,” he said.
Cargo transportation
The new route will focus on cargo transportation. Calvet pointed out that Catalonia and the Balearic Islands have a strong historical relationship that is not only based on tourism but also on the trade of goods.
The president of the port also highlighted the commitment to use new ships in order to minimise the environmental impact of the route.
The CEO of GNV, Matteo Catani, called the new venture “significant” for his company, and said that they are facing "strengthened competitors."
However, he said that the connection between the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands is "a constantly expanding market, which needs more transport."
With a fleet of 24 vessels, the company operates 26 routes between seven Mediterranean countries and intends to continue increasing supply to meet market demand.