Naviera Armas Sells Ferry Operations To Baleària And Dfds, Expanding Maritime Reach In The Canary Islands, Strait Of Gibraltar, And North Africa

Published on August 27, 2025

Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea, a cardinal subordinate successful Spain’s maritime industry, is trading its ferry operations to Baleària and DFDS, 2 starring shipping companies. This woody marks a awesome displacement successful ferry services crossed nan Canary Islands, nan Strait of Gibraltar, and North Africa. Baleària, pinch its extended network, will fortify its beingness successful these regions, while DFDS expands its operations connected important routes linking Spain, Morocco, and Ceuta.

As portion of nan agreement, Baleària will get 15 ships and 1,500 employees, enhancing its services successful nan Canary Islands and Alboran Sea. Meanwhile, DFDS will return complete cardinal vessels and way operations successful nan Strait of Gibraltar, bolstering its position successful this high-demand area. This strategical waste is group to reshape maritime carrier successful Spain and its neighboring regions, offering passengers and freight customers improved services and reliability.

Baleària Strengthens Presence successful Spain and North Africa

Baleària has finalized agreements to get nan mostly of Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea’s operations, excluding definite routes successful nan Strait of Gibraltar. The woody encompasses 15 vessels and astir 1,500 employees, enhancing Baleària’s services successful nan Canary Islands, nan Alboran Sea, and parts of nan Strait of Gibraltar. Key assets see vessels for illustration Volcán de Teno, Volcán de Tamadaba, and Villa de Tazacorte, on pinch larboard terminals successful locations specified arsenic Tenerife, Arrecife, and Almería. This acquisition positions Baleària arsenic a formidable section competitor amid expanding world maritime beingness successful Spanish waters.

Background of Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea

Naviera Armas was founded successful 1941 by Antonio Armas Curbelo successful Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Initially, nan institution operated wooden-hull boats for transporting brackish and freight betwixt nan islands. Over nan decades, nan fleet modernized, introducing steel-hull ships and expanding services to nan Spanish Sahara. In 1975, Naviera Armas introduced nan first roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels successful nan Canary Islands, marking a important advancement successful maritime transport. Passenger services commenced successful 1995, and by 2003, nan institution began a fleet renewal scheme pinch nan presence of nan Volcán de Tindaya. In 2017, Naviera Armas acquired Trasmediterránea, a historical Spanish shipping institution founded successful 1916, further consolidating its position successful nan industry.

Baleària: Spain’s Leading Shipping Company

Founded successful 1998 by Adolfo Utor, Baleària began pinch 16 founding partners and 126 employees. Operating initially pinch 2 routes and 3 ships, nan institution has since expanded its operations significantly. As of 2023, Baleària operates 25 routes crossed six countries, employing astir 1,800 people. The institution serves nan Balearic Islands, nan Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla, and parts of North Africa, including Morocco and Algeria. Baleària is besides nan only maritime institution linking each 4 islands successful nan Balearic archipelago.

DFDS: A Legacy of Maritime Excellence

DFDS, short for Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab, was established successful 1866 done nan merger of 3 awesome Danish shipping companies nether nan activity of financier Carl Frederik Tietgen. The institution commenced operations connected January 1, 1867, pinch 19 ships operating from Copenhagen. Initially, DFDS focused connected routes connecting Denmark to Norway, nan Baltic, Belgium, nan United Kingdom, Iceland, and nan Faroe Islands, carrying some freight and passengers. Over nan years, DFDS expanded its services to see nan Mediterranean, Black Sea, and moreover North and South America. Today, DFDS operates a web of 25 routes pinch 50 freight and rider ships successful nan North Sea, Baltic Sea, and nan English Channel. The institution besides provides logistics services crossed Europe.

DFDS Expands Operations successful nan Strait of Gibraltar

DFDS has agreed to acquisition 2 ferries from Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea: nan RoPax ferry Volcán de Tamasite and nan high-speed catamaran Villa de Agaete. These vessels presently run connected nan Algeciras–Tanger Med and Algeciras–Ceuta routes. The acquisition besides includes way cognition permits and nan integration of astir 200 employees. DFDS intends to heighten its work offerings and capacity connected these cardinal routes, which person knowledgeable important maturation since nan company’s introduction into nan marketplace successful 2024.

Strategic Implications and Future Outlook

The restructuring comes aft Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea faced financial challenges, including complete €400 cardinal successful losses during nan pandemic years. The institution underwent a reorganization nether nan guidance of finance costs specified arsenic Barings, Bain Capital, and Cheyne Capital. The waste is expected to beryllium completed successful 2026, pending support from Spain’s National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC). This strategical move intends to guarantee nan continuity of services, safeguard employment, and support location connectivity successful nan look of expanding title from world shipping giants.