By
Laura Hyde |
Baleària is to begin operating a daily ferry service connecting the ports of San Pedro de Macorís in the Dominican Republic and Mayagüez in Puerto Rico from late 2024.
A natural gas powered eco-efficient ship will operate the seven-hour, 133-mile crossing between the two islands, which Baleària believes will be the first natural gas-powered ferry in the Caribbean. The company hopes to offer passengers a “daily and reliable” route between the territories.
As part of the $100 million investment, Baleària plans to build a multifunctional passenger terminal in the Port of San Pedro de Macorís and adapt the existing terminal in Mayagüez. The company has been providing a service between Fort Lauderdale in Florida and Grand Bahama and Bimini in The Bahamas since 2011.
“The experience and performance over these 10 years are the guarantee of our commitment to expansion into such strategic markets as the Caribbean, where we believe our business model can be a key driver for the socio-economic development of both countries,” said Adolfo Utor, president of Baleària. “Our objective is to promote the mobility of passengers and goods among the Antilles, with the aim of boosting tourism and trade, as well as the exchange of cultures and knowledge.”