Penningtons Manches Cooper advises on delivery of Europe’s first hybrid passenger HSC ferries

Posted: 16/05/2024

Lawyers from the Madrid office of Penningtons Manches Cooper have advised on the delivery of Europe’s first HSC hybrid high speed passenger ferries.

Built by Astilleros Armon, Spain’s leading shipyard, the first ferry, the Vittorio Morace, has been successfully delivered to Penningtons Manches Cooper’s client Liberty Lines in Vigo, Spain. It will be followed by the Cristina M next month, and a further seven sister ships.

The delivery marks a significant step forward in the incorporation of more sustainable, lower carbon passenger ferries in the Mediterranean. Designed by Incat Crowther and powered by two innovative Rolls-Royce MTU hybrid engines, the 39.5 metre Vittorio Morace – which is named in honour of Liberty Lines’s founder – will be able to operate entirely in zero-emissions electric mode within ports. The vessel will also be able to operate in a high-speed hybrid mode in open sea, while simultaneously re-charging its batteries. It will be fully operational for the 2024 summer season.

Penningtons Manches Cooper partner Gonzalo Alvar advised on all legal aspects of the delivery under Spanish law, supported by senior associate Javier Herreros, and in co-ordination with Italian law firm E. Morace & Co. in Naples.

Gonzalo Alvar commented: “We are delighted to have advised Liberty Lines on this ground-breaking acquisition. There is much to admire in their close collaboration with the Armon shipyard in bringing this sustainable investment of the renewal of their fleet to completion. We are proud to have played a part in this significant step in Liberty Lines’s net zero strategy."

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