Yesterday at FITUR (the International Tourism Trade Fair in Madrid), Baleària, Spain’s leading shipping company in terms of passenger and freight transport, presented its commitment to boosting maritime connectivity with the Canary Islands , where it has been operating for more than seven years. The company provides modern, efficient and reliable transport services on routes to the Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, as well as the Canary Islands. It also operates in Morocco, Algeria and the Caribbean.

“Our more than twenty-five years of experience support us in meeting this challenge to guarantee cohesion throughout Spain and provide stability to the maritime transport sector”, stated Adolfo Utor, Baleària’s president. He went on to recall that, in August last year, agreements were reached for the acquisition of Armas Trasmediterránea, a shipping company that operates inter-island services in the Canaries and provides connections to the mainland. This operation is currently pending authorisation from the Spanish competitions commission.

Around 200 people heard the presentation given at Baleària’s stand at FITUR, including the President of the Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo, and the Vice President, Manuel Domínguez. Also in attendance were the Secretary General for Air and Maritime Transport, Benito Núñez; the President of Puertos del Estado, Gustavo Santana; the Director General of the Merchant Navy, Ana Núñez; the President of the Las Palmas Port Authority, Beatriz Calzada; the President of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port Authority, Pedro Suárez; the President of the Huelva Port Authority, Alberto Santana; and the President of the Island Council of La Palma, Sergio Javier Rodríguez, among other leading authorities from the islands and the sector in general.

The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, emphasised that “a stable operator with business insight and long-term commitment” should take on the archipelago’s routes in this strategically important sector, and expressed the hope that “the decision is made promptly, for the benefit of the Canary Islands.”

Utor stressed that “Baleària looks forward to starting operations in the Canary Islands as soon as possible.” Baleària’s President highlighted the company’s Spanish identity and long-term commitment, noting the significance of “a Spanish shipping company achieving sufficient scale to compete with the world’s major shipping groups.” He added that he “looks forward to Baleària Canarias incorporating some Canarian capital in the near future.”

Since late 2018, Baleària has been connecting the Canary Islands with the Spanish mainland and is committed to improving the archipelago’s connectivity. Baleària launched its Canary Islands routes with the ferry Marie Curie, an innovative ship designed to provide passengers with excellent comfort and service, and intends to debut the next-generation fast ferry Mercedes Pinto in the archipelago. This fast ferry, currently under construction at the Armon shipyards, represents an investment of 120 million euros and is scheduled for delivery in May. The Mercedes Pinto measures 123 metres in length with a 28-metre beam, can carry 1,200 passengers and 400 vehicles, and will achieve a top speed of 35 knots. The vessel’s name pays tribute to a Canarian woman, a writer ahead of her time.

Baleària’s President stressed that the company is committed and eager to improve maritime connectivity in the Canary Islands, as soon as it is able to begin operating the services: “As a company backed 100% by Spanish capital, we are placing our experience, operational strength and expertise at the service of the islands. We are aware of how important our role is beyond mainland Spain, where we play an essential and strategic role, ensuring mobility, guaranteeing the supply of goods, and supporting the creation of stable employment.”
Source: Baleària