Ferry Gomera and the first “Benchijigua” celebrate 49 years

Today, July 8, marks 49 years since the start of the La Gomera-Los Cristianos line of Ferry Gomera. On this date in 1974, a Monday on the calendar, a new chapter began in the history of maritime communications in the Canary Islands, featuring a ferry called  “Benchijigua”, built in Norway and imported under the REF, which was vigorously defended by the Tenerife lawyer Antonio Carballo Cotanda.

Renamed “Betancuria” in 1980, since 1984 it has been sailing in Iceland, first under the name “Akraborg,” during which it covered the Reykjavik-Akranes line, and since July 1998 as a training ship for the Slysavarnaskóli sjómanna (Maritime Safety and Survival Training Centre) renamed “Saebjörg” (IMO 7382938) based in Reykjavik.

This ship and its crews – Miguel Ángel Sánchez Conejo, José García Oliva, Tomás González Sánchez-Araña, Servando Peraza García, Manuel Méndez, Fernando Salvador Sánchez-Caro, Francisco Aguiar Rodríguez, Moncho León Herrera... – as well as the ground staff – Lali Hernando was the first to handle ticket sales from the offices on Anaga Avenue and later near the Greco cinema – while Per Tonsager managed the operations – he would soon be replaced by an extraordinary gentleman named Thor O. Lindberg – Tomás Cerdeña Brito managed the La Gomera delegation and Julio Mosquera Valeiras alternated between inspection and the Los Cristianos delegation.

Postcard featuring the first "Benchijigua" (1974-1980) at the port of San Sebastián de La Gomera

Photos: archive of Juan Carlos Díaz Lorenzo