The ferry “Buenavista Express” completes its dry dock at Navantia Cádiz and rejoins the Huelva-Canarias line

The ferry “Buenavista Express” has today rejoined the Huelva-Canarias line of Fred. Olsen Express at the port of Huelva, after a dry dock that was somewhat longer than initially planned at Navantia Cádiz.

This also marks the end of the charter for the ferry “Marie Curie”, which returns to the Baleària fleet to cover the Cádiz-Canarias line, where it will replace the ferry “Volcán de Tinamar” in mid-November, after it completes its scheduled dry dock at Cernaval.

The unexpected delay in the rejoining of the ferry “Buenavista Express” justified Fred. Olsen Express's request for a favor from Baleària Canarias —something common among shipping companies when a problem arises— so that affected passengers who wished to could board the ferry “Volcán de Tinamar” at the port of Cádiz last Saturday, October 31.

According to puentedemando.com, nearly one hundred passengers and about 50 cars boarded for a direct trip to Santa Cruz de Tenerife with a transfer to Las Palmas, although since the ferry “Volcán de Tinamar” was quite full, there were not enough cabins, and most of Fred. Olsen's passengers had to travel in seats. Other initial issues with catering were effectively resolved by the Onboard Services management and the cabin crew of the Baleària Canarias ferry.

Due to the delay in departure from Cádiz, there was even more delay in the transfer at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife since it was done between different berths to continue to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, on a date of high demand due to the November 1st holiday, so the catamaran “Volcán de Taidía” departed at 21:40 hours.

During the dry dock of the ferry “Buenavista Express” and as a reinforcement for rolling cargo, Fred. Olsen Express has positioned the roll-on/roll-off vessel “Bentayga Cargo” on the Huelva line. The other roll-on/roll-off vessels, “Bahía Cargo” and “Breñas Cargo”, have been recording a higher occupancy rate in recent weeks, transporting fleets of rental cars.

There is an increasingly persistent rumor in maritime circles that Fred. Olsen Express is looking for a second ferry to maintain the double rotation on the Huelva line.

It is known in the industry that Fred. Olsen Express has shown interest in the ferry “Ciudad de Granada”, a twin of the “Buenavista Express”, but it will not be available until at least 2027, when significant news is expected from the Spanish company of the Grimaldi Group, in addition to the news published last Sunday on puentedemando.com that Grimaldi has contracted the construction of a new super ferry in China for 160 million euros for the Trasmed fleet.

Photo: Eloy Ferreiro Nieto for puentedemando.com