Discover the Abel-Matutes: Ratings & Maritime News

In a heartbreaking event, the Balearic Hunting Federation reported the unfortunate demise of 27 hunting dogs during a ferry journey from Barcelona to Palma aboard the 'Abel Matutes'. This tragic incident occurred on November 1, 2025, when the ferry arrived at Palma's port. Out of the 36 dogs transported in a van within the ship's hold, only nine were discovered alive, albeit in a semi-conscious state, while the others were found lifeless. The Spanish Civil Guard has taken charge of the investigation, assigning SEPRONA, the Nature Protection Service, to determine the circumstances leading to this catastrophe. Initial findings suggest that the specialized ventilation system designed to ensure the safety of transported animals may have failed, leading to asphyxiation. The dogs were owned by a group from Mallorca who had just returned from Lithuania, where they participated in training sessions for the woodcock hunting season. While the journey from Lithuania to Barcelona was uneventful, the final leg to Mallorca turned tragic. The investigation is concentrating on the transport conditions of the van, including ventilation and temperature control. SEPRONA is working to uncover any chain of responsibility involved in the dogs' transport and well-being. Upon reaching Palma, the dog's owners quickly notified authorities, initiating the emergency protocol at the port. Current investigations are ongoing as officials await results from necropsies to assess potential deficiencies in care and whether there are grounds for criminal or administrative actions. Updates on this distressing case can be found in reports with accompanying visuals: [Diario de Mallorca](https://www.diariodemallorca.es/mallorca/2025/11/01/hallan-muertos-27-perros-caza-123262480.html) and [Última Hora](https://www.ultimahora.es/sucesos/ultimas/2025/11/02/2503739/estamos-destrozados-propietarios-lloran-perdida-perros-hallados-muertos-palma.html).

On July 25, 2019, a medical emergency unfolded aboard the ferry 'Abel Matutes' as a passenger experienced serious cardiac issues. In response, Spain's maritime rescue service, Salvamento Marítimo, deployed the helicopter Helimer 215 for a swift evacuation. The patient was successfully hoisted from the vessel and subsequently transported to La Fe hospital in Valencia for urgent medical care.

On February 1, 2019, the ferry 'Abel Matutes' experienced an unfortunate allision with the commercial dock at the port of Ibiza around 5:45 a.m. The vessel, which operates on the Valencia-Palma-Ibiza route, incurred significant damage to its stern, primarily a breach above the waterline at the ramp. The ferry had faced delays due to stormy weather conditions in the area and made multiple unsuccessful attempts to dock before colliding with the pier on its third try. In the wake of the incident, company technicians conducted a thorough evaluation of the damage. To minimize disruption, stevedores at the port quickly transferred the cargo from the 'Abel Matutes' to the ferry 'Sicilia', which had been originally scheduled to sail to Barcelona but was rerouted to Palma, taking over the itinerary of the affected ferry. Repair efforts commenced on the same day at 9:30 p.m. in Valencia, with the 'Abel Matutes' resuming operations on February 4 at 10:10 p.m. It departed from Ibiza for Palma on February 5 at 4 a.m. For more detailed reports, including photos, check the articles on Cadena SER and Diario de Ibiza.

On Monday, Baleària Eurolínias Marítimas S.A. (Baleària) announced a significant milestone in maritime sustainability with the successful completion of the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering for its ferry, Abel Matutes, at the Port of Barcelona. This pioneering effort, in collaboration with Gas Natural SDG, S.A. (Gas Natural Fenosa), marks a transformative step in reducing the environmental impact of maritime transport. The Abel Matutes ferry has recently undergone a retrofitting process, which included the installation of a state-of-the-art LNG storage tank and an auxiliary LNG-powered Rolls-Royce engine. Baleària anticipates that this upgrade will lead to a remarkable annual decrease of approximately 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, alongside a reduction of over 60 tonnes of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 6 tonnes of sulfur oxides (SOx). This initiative reinforces Baleària's commitment to sustainability and cleaner energy alternatives in the shipping industry.