The shipping company Trasmed, which connects the Balearic Islands with the mainland, has celebrated its fifth anniversary aboard the 'Ciudad de Sóller' in Palma port. The company transports over 700,000 passengers annually and expects the electrical connection on land by October.
The shipping company Trasmed, second in passenger volume in the Balearics, commemorated its fifth anniversary with an event aboard the ferry Ciudad de Sóller in Palma port. Miguel Pardo, the Director of Institutional Relations of the Grimaldi Group and Trasmed's representative in the islands, reflected on these years and focused on the upcoming electrification of Palma port, scheduled for October if the deadlines set by the Balearic Port Authority (APB) are met.
Five years of continuity after Trasmediterránea
Trasmed was born in 2021 from the purchase of the century-old Trasmediterránea by the Italian group Grimaldi. Pardo highlighted that the group's entry helped save the struggling shipping company, which now transports over 700,000 passengers and 31,000 pets annually. The company generated €165.4 million in revenue in 2025, a 9.4% increase from the previous year, and recorded a positive EBITDA of €21.5 million. Its goal is to reduce debt to zero by 2027.
Trasmed's fleet consists of five ferries, all with Spanish flags and crew. In addition to the Ciudad de Sóller, they operate the Ciudad de Palma, Ciudad de Granada, Ciudad de Barcelona, and the Gubal Trader (cargo). Seventy percent of their activity focuses on transporting goods to the islands, while thirty percent is for passengers. Pardo emphasized that proximity to the Balearic public is a priority, which is why they maintain a fleet with a national flag.
Electrification, a pending task
One of the most significant milestones for Trasmed has been the connection to electrical energy at the port of Barcelona since March 2025, which has resulted in an 11% reduction in CO2 emissions and a decrease in noise pollution in the urban environment. Now, the shipping company hopes that Palma port will follow the same path. The APB expects the electrification to be operational between September and October of this year, although the connection with the electrical substation is still pending.
Pardo explained that the required power is substantial: 1.2 megawatts for a ferry and 15 megawatts for a cruise ship. Once the infrastructure investments are made, the shore connection will allow ships to turn off their engines while docked, eliminating emissions and noise. Trasmed is already adapting its fleet to connect to the OPS (Onshore Power Supply) system as ports incorporate this technology.
Emission reduction and future of the fleet
The shipping company has managed to reduce 22,800 tons of CO2 in two years thanks to operational efficiency and the installation of gas purification systems (scrubbers). However, the current fleet is inherited from Trasmediterránea and, although renewed, is aging. Pardo indicated that the company is considering acquiring new ships with dual engines that can use methanol as an alternative fuel, but uncertainty about costs (maintenance exceeds €100 million) and the limited supply of new fuels are hindering short-term investments.
The international war context and rising fuel prices also affect profitability. Nevertheless, Pardo remains optimistic: “
We want to become a profitable company and continue serving the Balearics.” The entry of GNV (from the MSC group) in 2021 triggered a price war that, combined with the pandemic, caused significant losses. Now, Trasmed aims to consolidate itself and, in the process, ensure that Palma residents breathe cleaner air when the ferries are docked.
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