Alsa, which is part of Mobico Group, has launched Bus Nàutic, a new zero-emission boat service connecting Drassanes and Llevant in Barcelona.

This service is a key step by Port de Barcelona towards the port-city integration and provides a fast and attractive alternative to land transport that will help to relieve traffic congestion on the Colom and Joan de Borbó avenues.

Services began on 4 July and operate at least 12 hours a day, with frequencies ranging from 15 and 30 minutes for the 10 minute service. The two catamarans - Ecocat Dos and the Ecocat Tres - provide capacity for 56 and 84 passengers respectively. The boats, which were designed by Naval Architecture Marine Engineering and were built by the Cantabrian shipyard, are zero-emission and will save 180 tonnes of CO2 a year.

Francisco Iglesias, ALSA´s CEO, said: “This project brings together three strategic lines where the company has been working on intensively: sustainability, with a service 100% zero emission, that also helps to reduce traffic congestion; multi-
modality, in this case operating a seaport transport, and finally, tourist mobility, where we would like to keep growing with new projects."

Attending the launch were the City Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni; the Chairman of Port de Barcelona, Lluís Salvadó; Alsa´s CEO, Francisco Iglesias; and the Director of Port Vell, David Pino.