Abel Matutes ferry
Abel Matutes ferry current position
The current location of Abel Matutes ferry is in North East Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 36.53912 N / -6.27162 W) cruising en route to CADIZ. The AIS position was last reported 14 minutes ago.
Current PositionSpecifications of Abel Matutes ferry
Year of build | 2010 / Age: 15 |
Flag state | Malta |
Builder | Barreras Shipyard (Vigo, Spain) |
Class | cruiseferry (Ro-Pax ship) |
Ferry route / homeports | Barcelona-Palma de Mallorca, Valencia-Ibiza-Palma de Mallorca, Huelva-Canarias |
Speed | 23 kn / 43 km/h / 26 mph |
Length (LOA) | 190 m / 623 ft |
Beam (width) | 26 m / 85 ft |
Gross Tonnage | 29670 gt |
Passengers | 900 |
Cars | 247 |
Beds | 364 |
Cabins | 92 |
Last Refurbishment | 2019 |
Owner | Balearia Group |
Operator | BALEARIA FERRIES |
Abel Matutes ferry Review
Review of Abel Matutes ferry
MV Abel Matutes is a Ro-Ro passenger ferry owned and operated by the Spanish company BALEARIA. The vessel has a maximum capacity of 900 passengers and 247 cars. Launched in 2010, it currently operates on the ferry route Barcelona/Valencia-Ibiza-Palma de Mallorca (crossing time: 7.5 hours) and Huelva-Canarias (Gran Canaria and Tenerife/Canary Islands).
Cabins
As a cruise ferry, Abel Matutes offers a total of 92 cabins (90 of which are 4-berth), all of which are air-conditioned and equipped with en-suite bathrooms. The ferry company provides bed linens, towels, and toiletries. The ship also offers wheelchair-accessible cabins (adapted for disabled passengers).
The ship's Reserved Seating Lounge (Neptune Lounge) is equipped with large TVs and reclining Pullman seats (comfortable, fully reclining leather armchairs). Reserved seats are available for pre-booking, and these deals include complimentary beverages (tea, coffee, soft drinks). The Lobby Bar Lounge is furnished with comfortable leather sofas and chairs and round tables.
All passengers must vacate their staterooms 30 minutes prior to arrival at the homeport.
Shipboard Dining and Entertainment Options
The Abel Matutes offers the following facilities:
- Accommodation options - cabins, Sirena Lounge seats (standard), Neptune Lounge seats (reserved / leather recliners), Lobby Bar seating. All lounges are equipped with large TVs.
- Dining options - Self-Service Restaurant (full menu, single courses, kids' meals, vegetarian and healthy meals, traditional local dishes), Bar-Cafeteria (pastries, cakes, drinks, snacks, sandwiches), Outdoor Bar (grill, cocktails, beers, sundeck barbecues), chocolate and ice cream parlor. Purchasing dining services in advance offers a 10% discount.
- Entertainment options - supervised children's entertainment, live stand-up comedy and magic shows, DJ music parties, live performances by guest artists (on the Sun Deck), 3D Cinema, Casino (slot machines gaming area).
- Family services - the company provides high chairs, cots, safety bars for cabin bunk beds, baby changing rooms, kids' menu, children's activities (games, toys, drawing sets, board games), kids' play area (ball pool). The kids' entertainment program is available during peak season (movies, craft workshops).
- Passengers with disabilities - 6 disabled cabins (2 are 2-berth for passengers with reduced mobility), adapted toilets (in all communal areas), 5 disabled lounge seats, 2 safety anchorage points (for wheelchairs), lifts (passenger elevators connecting all decks).
- Spa & Beauty Salon (massages, beauty treatments)
- Solarium (sundeck sunbathing area)
- Gifts & Travel Necessities Shop (combined boutique and general store - gifts and souvenirs, alcohol, tobacco, perfumes, cosmetics, drinks, snacks, sweets, toiletries, electronics, toys, books, newspapers, local gourmet produce)
- Luggage Compartments - luggage lockers (available in the ship's passenger lounge) are accessible throughout the voyage.
Pet Cages (upon booking, the pet cage type must be specified). For pet owners, all Balearia ships offer two types of cages - small (max height 50-75 cm / pets under 30 kg) and large (max height 70-90 cm / pets over 30 kg). Passengers can also bring their own pet carriers. In all cases, cage pricing is fixed (EUR 3-10 per voyage) and varies depending on the ferry route. Valid health certificates for pets are required. Under no circumstances are pets allowed outside their cages/carriers during the crossing. During embarkation and disembarkation, dogs must be leashed and muzzled. Passengers with pets always disembark last.
Entreolas by Balearia Magazine is a free-of-charge onboard magazine focused on travel, lifestyle, culture, sports, fashion, music, cuisine, and Balearia news. Wi-Fi and internet access are available at an extra cost. Mobile phone chargers and iPad rentals are also offered.
All Balearia ships are equipped with CCTV cameras that record images. Smoking is prohibited inside the ships.
Car Decks
All ferried vehicles must have proper documentation and valid insurance. Having the car's technical data sheet available makes boarding checks easier. When booking, the vehicle's model, length, and height must be specified. Car ferry passengers must arrive at the departure port 90 minutes before departure.
All Balearia ships have a hold for bicycles. Bicycles, mopeds, and motorbikes (up to 125cc) can travel free of charge, but must be specified upon booking.
Special vehicles (height over 3 meters / 10 feet) must be booked through the company's Call Center (902 160 180).
The following are the safety procedures for car decks:
- Disabled passengers or those requiring specific assistance should visit the ship's Information Desk.
- Apply the handbrake and place the vehicle in park or 1st gear. Switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, and headlights. Gas cylinders, if any, must be turned off. Lock the vehicle.
- Take only valuables and essential hand baggage from your vehicle.
- Make a note of your vehicle's location and garage deck number/stairway before leaving the car deck.
- Access to the vehicle (cargo) decks during the voyage is prohibited.
- Smoking on vehicle decks, as well as in cabins and passenger lounges, is forbidden.
- Wait for the onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.
- To avoid air pollution, do not start the engine until instructed.
Balearia Ferry Deals
Onboard shopping offers discounted prices for Balearia Club members. Balearia Club members enjoy the following perks:
- 10% discounts on onboard shops, bars, and restaurants
- Preferential queue (priority boarding at select departure ports)
- With a standard chair booking, club members receive vouchers granting access to the Superior Lounge (reclining leather chairs / subject to availability).
- Balearia has over 50 partnerships for exclusive offers and promotions. Club members enjoy discounts on land-based facilities and services (resorts, hotels, restaurants, chain stores, boutiques, tours, buses, travel insurance, etc.).
(ferry + train travel) Balearia has partnered with the Spanish state-owned railroad company Renfe Operadora, serving routes between Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Marseilles, Barcelona, and Madrid. The Balearia-Renfe partnership offers discounted train travel. Upon online booking for a Balearia ferry, an option to create a Renfe promo code is available. The code is valid for the next 48 hours if you book Renfe trains online.
(ferry + hotel) On select routes, Balearia offers discounted ferry-hotel packages, with prices starting around EUR 65.
(day tour) Deals are valid when purchasing roundtrip tickets and within 24 hours after booking (no changes or cancellations allowed). Kids under 13 receive a 50% discount, while babies travel for free. Day tour package prices range from EUR 10 to 60 (depending on the itinerary). Shuttle bus service is provided.
The shipowner Balearia (fleet, founded in 1998, headquartered in Denia, Spain) is a Spanish ferry company operating passenger ferry services in the Mediterranean and Caribbean (Bahamas).
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Abel Matutes ferry Wiki
In late October 2018, Balearia contracted Caterpillar Marine to install MAK dual-fuel engines on three vessels (Abel Matutes, Bahama Mama, and Martin I Soler). Engine conversions, carried out by Caterpillar dealer Finanzauto, were scheduled for early 2019. Through this project, the ships' diesel engines (2x 9M43C, total power output 18 MW) were replaced with 2x MaK 9M46DF dual-fuel engines (LNG/diesel, power output 8.7 MW each), used in conjunction with gearboxes and controllable pitch propellers. Caterpillar provided the dual-fuel conversion kits and all necessary engine modules (ignition, ventilation, exhaust gas systems, GVU ventilation, valves, and housing).
In November 2018, BALEARIA initiated a EUR 443 million (USD 520 million) drydock reconstruction project for nine ferries to be retrofitted and converted to LNG (liquefied natural gas). The project was partially funded (20%) by CEF (Connecting Europe Facility).
All drydocks (at Gibraltar Gibdock and West Sea's Viana Shipyard) involved modifying the diesel engines (to MAN dual-fuel) and installing LNG tanks. Each vessel now operates with dual-fuel (LNG-diesel) MAN marine engines (model 9L-51-60-DF). The Wärtsilä-made LNG tanks (one or two per vessel) are capable of storing up to 425 m³ of LNG, allowing for autonomous operations up to 1,800 km (1,100 miles). Onboard gas pipes are supplied by Cryospain (Madrid-based). The engineering design for the project was created by Cotenaval (Valencia-based).
The fleet retrofitting resulted in fuel savings, with an expected annual emissions reduction per vessel of over 9,113 tons (CO2) and 871 tons (NOx), plus zero SOx emissions and no soot particles. The ferry's annual CO2 reduction is equivalent to the emissions of approximately 6,000 cars.