The Port Authority of Las Palmas and Baleària Canarias have completed the Canary Islands’ first-ever truck-to-ship LNG bunkering operation, successfully delivering a 600-MWh stem to the new dual-fuel fast ferry Mercedes Pinto using a high-flow simultaneous discharge system. This milestone establishes a flexible land-based cryogenic supply chain in the region, securing Las Palmas’ position as a competitive alternative-fuel hub capable of meeting tightening maritime emissions regulations in the Mid-Atlantic.
Canary Islands | June 9, 2026 – In a major development for the Mid-Atlantic bunkering sector, the Port Authority of Las Palmas and Baleària Canarias have successfully executed the first-ever liquefied natural gas (LNG) truck-to-ship (TTS) bunkering operation in the Canary Islands.
The operation, completed late Monday night at the Juan Sebastián Elcano dock, involved delivering a 600-megawatt-hour (MWh) stem, equivalent to approximately 39 metric tonnes of LNG, to Baleària’s newly inaugurated, €128 million high-speed catamaran, Mercedes Pinto.
The breakthrough operation marks a pivotal step forward for the Atlantic island archipelago’s alternative marine fuel capabilities, demonstrating the infrastructure agility required to meet the maritime industry’s tightening emissions standards.
High-Flow Logistics: The MTTS Approach
To optimize turnaround efficiency for the high-speed passenger ferry, logistics operators utilized a Multi-Truck-to-Ship (MTTS) system, provided in coordination with Spanish cryogenic supplier ESK Gas.
The setup allowed two LNG tanker trucks to hook up and discharge into the vessel’s fuel tanks simultaneously.
- Pumping Dynamics: Each truck discharged at a flow rate of 600 liters per minute (l/min).
- Total Pumping Flow: The combined simultaneous flow reached 1,200 l/min.
- Energy Transferred: 600 MWh (approx. 39 mt of LNG).
While previous LNG bunkering activities in the Canary Islands, specifically at the neighboring port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, relied on ship-to-ship (STS) transfers from specialized bunker vessels originating from European hubs like Rotterdam and Huelva, Monday’s operation highlights Las Palmas’ emerging capability to provide flexible, land-based cryogenic supply chains.
Operational & Technological Specifications: Mercedes Pinto
The 123-meter Mercedes Pinto, built by Astilleros Armón, is the latest addition to Baleària’s expanding dual-fuel fleet. Having just debuted on Friday on the strategic inter-island route connecting Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Fuerteventura, the smart ship features cutting-edge environmental and operational technology:
| Parameter | Specification |
| Length / Beam | 123 meters / 28 meters |
| Capacity | 1,200 passengers and 425 vehicles |
| Service Speed | 35 knots |
| Propulsion Type | Dual-fuel engines (LNG / Biogas / 25% Hydrogen blends) |
| Fleet Context | Baleària’s 12th LNG-ready vessel |
Crucially for the regional energy transition, the vessel is equipped to consume 100% biomethane (biogas) and green hydrogen mixtures up to 25%, allowing the operator to instantly lower its net greenhouse gas footprint as bio-derived supply lines mature.
Strategic Infrastructure Push
The successful fueling solves a critical operational bottleneck for alternative fuels in the region. Some regional industry observers have noted that local port authorities have lagged behind in permanent cryogenic infrastructure. Georges Bassoul, General Manager of Baleària, emphasized that this operation is designed to break that inertia:
“With this supply operation, Baleària Canarias takes a first step to promote the development and regular supply of these sustainable fuels in the archipelago, with the aim of continuing to move towards more efficient and environmentally responsible maritime mobility.”
For the Port Authority of Las Palmas, cementing alternative fuel capabilities is defensive as much as it is progressive. Las Palmas is firmly entrenched as the leading bunkering hub in the Mid-Atlantic and ranks second overall within the Spanish port system. As shipping lines aggressively pivot toward dual-fuel orderbooks to comply with FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS frameworks, maintaining conventional fuel dominance is no longer sufficient.
Beatriz Calzada, President of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, framed the successful TTS transfer as a strategic launchpad for the port’s broader decarbonization roadmap:
“For us, this operation is the starting signal in the supply of less polluting fuels. Bunkering is an activity that we have declared strategic for our port, and we must be able to supply any type of fuel that ships need and the market demands. At the Port Authority of Las Palmas, we are working to be able to store this fuel permanently to supply the ships that trust our high safety standards.”
The Broader Market View
Baleària’s aggressive rollout of LNG assets in the Canary Islands, spurred by its recent asset acquisition of Armas Trasmediterránea, comes with a committed €45 million modernization fund over the next three years to upgrade its 12-ship regional fleet.
By proving that high-flow MTTS operations can be executed safely and swiftly without disrupting tight inter-island ferry schedules, Las Palmas has signaled to the international bunker market that it is ready to defend its market-share leadership in the Mid-Atlantic transition fuel landscape.
About the Partners
Port of Las Palmas
As the premier maritime crossroads of the Mid-Atlantic, the Port of Las Palmas operates as a vital geostrategic gateway connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Ranking as the second-largest bunkering hub in the Spanish port system, it anchors regional commerce through world-class logistics infrastructure, high-capacity container terminals, and robust ship-repair facilities. By aggressively scaling up its alternative fuel capabilities, including landmark liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations, Las Palmas continues to solidify its leadership as a forward-looking, highly secure maritime powerhouse driving the decarbonization of international shipping lanes.
Baleària
Baleària is the leading Spanish shipping company in passenger and goods transport to the Balearic Islands and a key operator in the Strait of Gibraltar and international Caribbean routes. A pioneer in the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and sustainable propulsion, Baleària continues to invest in fleet renewal and terminal infrastructure to align with global environmental goals.
Source: Balearia