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.
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.
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.
In May 2026, Baleària took over the operations in the Canary Islands under the Baleària Canarias brand.
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. The company operates in the U.S. under the name Baleària Caribbean.
Fleet Current vessels
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. 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 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 SolerMercedes Pinto 2025 2026 Operated under Baleària Canarias. 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. 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 Sicilia 2002 2015 Sister ship to Nápoles Tom Sawyer 2001 2023 Volcán de Tagoro 2019 2026 Operated under Baleària Canarias.Volcán de Taidía 2021 2026 Operated under Baleària Canarias.Volcán de Tamadaba 2007 2026 Operated under Baleària Canarias.Volcán de Teno 2000 2026 Volcán de Tinamar 2011 2026 Operated under Baleària Canarias.Volcán de Tindaya 2003 2026 Operated under Baleària Canarias.Volcán de Tirajana 2006 2026 Operated under Baleària Canarias. 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.
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.
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