Fred Olsen Express

Fred Olsen Express is a Spanish high-speed ferry operator founded in 1974 as Ferry Gomera. Owned by the Olsen family through its Bonheur and Ganger Rolf holding companies, the brand is the inter-island specialist of the Canary Islands and also runs a single mainland route between Huelva and Las Palmas. The fleet is built around fast catamarans and trimarans.

Key facts

Company type: Spanish high-speed ferry operator
Founded: 1974 (as Ferry Gomera)
Owner: Olsen family (via Bonheur and Ganger Rolf)
Fleet size: 11 to 14 vessels (HSC class)
Notable vessels: HSC Benchijigua Express (world's first trimaran ferry, 2005), HSC Bajamar/Banaderos Express trimarans (2017 order)
Annual volumes: Around 3.5M passengers, ~1M vehicles, ~63K pets
Employees: Approx. 1,000+
Service area: Canary Islands inter-island plus Huelva — Las Palmas
Free luggage: 20 kg per passenger
Web check-in: Mandatory; closes 2 hours before sailing

Top Fred Olsen Express routes on SimpleFerry

Tenerife (Los Cristianos) → La Gomera (San Sebastian)
Tenerife (Los Cristianos) → La Palma (Santa Cruz)
Tenerife (Los Cristianos) → El Hierro (Valverde)
Tenerife (Agaete) → Gran Canaria (Las Palmas)
Lanzarote (Playa Blanca) → Fuerteventura (Corralejo)
Las Palmas → Lanzarote (Arrecife)
Huelva → Lanzarote → Las Palmas (mainland — Canaries)

Fleet and onboard experience

The fleet is led by HSC Benchijigua Express, the world's first trimaran ferry, built by Austal in 2005 and serving routes from Tenerife. Two newer trimarans, Bajamar Express and Banaderos Express, were ordered in 2017 for around 126 million euros. HSC Bentago Express and HSC Bencomo Express are 96-metre catamarans on the Tenerife-Gran Canaria run. HSC Bonanza Express handles the longer Las Palmas-Arrecife crossing. HSC Barlovento Express was acquired in 2024 from Liberty Lines. Onboard, passengers choose between three classes (Basic, Optimal and Comfort) with different baggage allowances and amenities. Most vessels offer cafeterias, a children's area and a small shop.

Booking, check-in and luggage on SimpleFerry

Web check-in is mandatory and closes two hours before departure. Passengers who fail to check in online cannot board. Boarding windows: 20 minutes before departure for foot passengers, 40 minutes with a vehicle, and 60 minutes for the Huelva mainland route. Each ticket comes with 20 kg of free luggage. Open-date tickets remain valid for one year from issue. Tickets are accessed digitally via the SimpleFerry booking confirmation.

Pet policy

Fred Olsen Express transports around 63,000 pets per year and is pet-friendly across most routes. Pets travel in dedicated kennels or with their owner depending on size and route. Health documentation is required.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest Tenerife to Gran Canaria ferry?

Fred Olsen Express catamarans Bentago Express and Bencomo Express run Agaete-Las Palmas in around 1 hour 20 minutes. This is the fastest scheduled service between the two islands.

Do I need to print my ticket?

No. The SimpleFerry booking confirmation plus a valid ID is enough to board after web check-in is complete.

Can I bring a car between islands?

Yes. All inter-island routes accept vehicles, and the Huelva mainland route accepts cars and motorhomes. Web check-in must be done at least two hours before departure.

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