The shipping company celebrates more than half a century promoting mobility between islands with local talent, social commitment and Canarian identity
Fred. Olsen Express celebrates 52 years connecting the Canary Islands and being part of the lives of its inhabitants. Over more than five decades, the company has accompanied more than 93 million people on their trips between islands, facilitating trips for family, health, academic, professional and leisure reasons.
Its trajectory is closely linked to the development of the maritime connectivity of the archipelago and the daily mobility of the Canarian population. Under the motto “With you forever”, Fred. Olsen Express values a relationship built trip by trip and its continued commitment to the Canary Islands.
It all began on July 8, 1974, when the Gomera Ferry made its first crossing between Los Cristianos and Isla Colombina, with 399 passengers on board and a staff of just 40 workers. That connection marked a before and after for inter-island mobility and marked the beginning of a project that has not stopped growing together with the Canary Islands and its people. Five decades later, it has established itself as the archipelago's leading shipping company.
With a staff of more than 1,000 people, a fleet made up of high-speed boats, miniferries and cargo ships, it operates seven inter-island lines, a coastal route in La Gomera and the connection with the Peninsula through Huelva. In 2025 alone, it will reach four million passengers transported, in addition to one million vehicles and 80,000 pets.
Their contribution goes far beyond these figures. Fred. Olsen Express plays an essential role for the territorial cohesion and economic development of the islands, promoting the mobility of residents and visitors, generating quality local employment and guaranteeing supply through its cargo service, which connects the archipelago daily and links with the Peninsula in less than 48 hours.
The people of the Canary Islands also sail aboard their ships, reflected in the initiatives that promote the consumption of kilometer zero products made on the islands, thanks to agreements with GMR and other entities in the primary sector.
This commitment is added to initiatives of sustainability, accessibility, protection of the marine environment and collaboration with social entities that reinforce its commitment to the well-being of the community.
After more than half a century, Fred. Olsen Express continues to demonstrate that connecting the Canary Islands means much more than joining ports: it means bringing people together, creating opportunities and contributing to the development of islands whose main link is the sea.
About Fred. Olsen Express
Fred. Olsen Express is the leading shipping company in the Canary Islands and has been guaranteeing connectivity between islands for more than 50 years. Since its first crossing in 1974 with Ferry Gomera, between San Sebastián de La Gomera and Los Cristianos, in Tenerife, the company has maintained its commitment to the development of maritime transport in the archipelago. It is characterized by providing a service with state-of-the-art ships based on comfort, punctuality, speed and flexibility.
Faithful to its vocation to generate wealth among the Canarian community, it has a human team of more than 1,000 people. Currently, Fred. Olsen Express has a fleet of eight high-speed boats, two miniferries and three cargo ships intended for the transport of goods, with which it connects the archipelago, through seven islands. It operates seven inter-island maritime lines and a coastal route in the south of La Gomera. In addition, it connects the Canary Islands with the peninsula by connecting Gran Canaria and Tenerife with Huelva with a new, completely renovated ferry.
Fred. Olsen Express is a leader in the interisland market. It makes an average of 22,500 trips per year and annually transports more than 4 million people, 80,000 pets, 1,100,000 passenger cars and 1,600,000 linear meters of cargo, that is, about 138,600 goods transport vehicles. Since its inception, more than 93 million passengers have trusted the company.
In line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Canarian Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030, through its program 'In Harmony with the Sea', Fred. Olsen Express applies innovation in all its processes to minimize its footprint on the environment.
(Information and photos attached)
