The shipping company Baleària has expanded its high-speed fleet through the purchase of a fast ferry built in 2015. The company has decided to name this vessel Pepita Castellví, in recognition of the prominent Catalan scientist. The vessel, which has a trimaran configuration, has dimensions of 102 meters in length and 27 meters in beam. Its technical specifications allow it to accommodate 870 passengers and 250 vehicles, as well as having 190 linear meters designated for cargo. Regarding its operational performance, the construction reaches a speed of 35 knots.
The Australian shipyard Austal was responsible for the construction of this trimaran, which to date has operated on the routes of southern England under the operation of the firm Condor Ferries. The unit is currently located in the French port of Le Havre. In the coming days, its transfer to the port of Algeciras is planned, where it will undergo various commissioning works. These tasks will include a complete renovation of the interior lounges to adapt the spaces to the quality standards managed by the shipping company. The company's forecast is that the new vessel will begin its commercial activity during the current summer season.
The choice of name is a tribute to the career of Pepita Castellví, an oceanographer who focused her professional work on the study of marine ecosystems, scientific dissemination, and environmental protection. Castellví played a decisive role in the establishment of the first Spanish base in Antarctica, a facility she led between 1989 and 1993.
With this new addition, Baleària's fleet structure adds its ninth vessel named after a pioneering woman in scientific disciplines. This decision fits into the corporate policy of giving visibility to female role models in the fields of science and technology, linked to the promotion of women in so-called STEM careers.