Naviera Armas
Naviera Armas is a Spanish ferry operator founded in Lanzarote that developed from an inter-island freight carrier into a major passenger and vehicle-ferry brand serving the Canary Islands and selected routes to mainland Spain, North Africa, and Portugal.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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History
Naviera Armas was established in Lanzarote in 1941 by Antonio Armas Curbelo. Its original business was small-scale maritime freight, particularly the movement of salt and other goods among the Canary Islands. The company initially used wooden-hull boats, but later adopted steel-hull vessels as its network and cargo requirements expanded. Its activities eventually reached the former Spanish Sahara, extending the company beyond purely inter-island transport. The introduction of roll-on/roll-off shipping in 1975 was an important technological and commercial milestone. Naviera Armas introduced the first roll-on/roll-off vessels in the Canary Islands, enabling cars, trucks, and other wheeled cargo to be driven directly onto and off ships. This model became central to the company’s later ferry operations and supported the movement of both commercial freight and private vehicles. Passenger services were introduced in 1995. The change broadened Naviera Armas’s role from a freight specialist into a public transport and tourism operator. The company subsequently operated services carrying passengers, vehicles, and cargo, using a combination of conventional ferries and faster vessels. In 2003, it began a fleet-renewal plan with the arrival of Volcán de Tindaya, marking a more systematic effort to modernize its vessels and service capability. Naviera Armas’s core network developed around the Canary Islands, where maritime connections are essential for residents, visitors, trade, and the movement of road vehicles between islands. The company also established links between the archipelago and the Spanish mainland, as well as routes to the North African coast. To compete in the regional ferry market, it acquired and operated fast ferries alongside conventional ferries. This was particularly relevant in competition with Fred. Olsen Express, which operated an entirely high-speed fleet in the Canary Islands. The company also pursued routes beyond its principal Canary Islands network. In 2008, it began a service to Portimão in Portugal, calling at Madeira. The route was withdrawn in 2013 after a dispute over harbour fees. It later returned as a seasonal operation in the summer of 2018, operated by Grupo Sousa with Naviera Armas’s Volcán de Tijarafe. The reference material describes the crossing as taking about 24 hours and having a maximum speed of 23 knots. In 2019, Volcán de Timanfaya was used for the seasonal service. The fleet described in the available reference material consisted of eleven ferries and five fast ferries as of August 2019. Not all ships used in the company’s operations were owned by Naviera Armas. Vessels owned by the company generally followed its “Volcán de” naming convention, with the second part of the name beginning with the letter T. The company entered a new phase in 2025 when Baleària announced an agreement to take over Naviera Armas and Trasmediterránea. Because the transaction affected maritime transport competition in Spain, it was subject to review by the National Commission on Markets and Competition. The supplied reference material states that approval was granted in March 2026. It further states that Baleària assumed the Canary Islands operations in May 2026 under the Baleària Canarias brand. Since the available sources do not fully clarify whether Naviera Armas continued as a separate legal entity or retained independent branded operations after that transfer, its current status remains unknown.
- 2026
Competition approval and operational transfer
[1]The supplied reference material states that the CNMC approved the transaction in March and that Baleària assumed Canary Islands operations under Baleària Canarias in May.
- 2025
Baleària announces takeover plan
[1]Baleària announced its intention to take over Naviera Armas and Trasmediterránea, subject to competition approval.
- 2019
Volcán de Timanfaya used on seasonal Portugal route
[1]The seasonal Portimão service was operated with Volcán de Timanfaya.
- 2018
Seasonal Portugal service resumes
[1]A seasonal connection resumed between the Canary Islands and Portimão, operated by Grupo Sousa with Volcán de Tijarafe.
- 2013
Portimão–Madeira service withdrawn
[1]The service was suspended following a dispute concerning harbour fees.
- 2008
Portimão and Madeira service launched
[1]Naviera Armas began offering a service to Portimão, Portugal, with a stop in Madeira.
- 2003
Fleet renewal program begins
[1]The arrival of Volcán de Tindaya marked the beginning of a fleet-renewal program.
- 1995
Passenger services begin
[1]The company expanded from freight operations into passenger ferry services.
- 1975
Roll-on/roll-off shipping introduced
[1]Naviera Armas introduced the first roll-on/roll-off vessels in the Canary Islands, enabling more efficient carriage of vehicles and wheeled freight.
- 1941
Company founded in Lanzarote
[1]Antonio Armas Curbelo founded Naviera Armas in Lanzarote as an inter-island salt and freight shipping business.
Products and positioning
A regional Spanish ferry and maritime transport operator combining passenger travel, vehicle carriage, freight capacity, conventional ferries, and fast-ferry services, with a historic focus on the Canary Islands.
Passenger ferry services · 1995
Inter-island passenger ferries
Ferry services linking the Canary Islands, carrying passengers and often providing accompanying vehicle and freight capacity. These routes form the historical and operational core of the Naviera Armas network.
Vehicle and freight ferry services · 1975
Roll-on/roll-off vehicle transport
Vehicle ferry operations based on roll-on/roll-off vessels, allowing cars, trucks, and other wheeled cargo to be driven directly onto ships. Naviera Armas introduced this type of vessel in the Canary Islands in 1975.
High-speed maritime transport
Fast-ferry services
Fast-ferry services developed to provide quicker regional connections and to compete with Fred. Olsen Express’s high-speed Canary Islands network. The fleet reference identifies five fast ferries as of August 2019.
International ferry route · 2008
Portimão–Madeira–Canary Islands service
A route connecting the Canary Islands with Portimão in Portugal via Madeira. It began in 2008, was withdrawn in 2013 over a harbour-fee dispute, and returned as a seasonal service in 2018 and 2019.
Brand decisions
2025
Agree to proposed Baleària takeoverM&ABackground
Baleària sought to take over Naviera Armas and Trasmediterránea, subject to review by Spain’s competition authority.
Action taken
Baleària announced the proposed transaction in August 2025.
Aftermath
The supplied reference material states that the CNMC approved the deal in March 2026 and that Canary Islands operations moved under Baleària Canarias in May 2026.
2008
Expand to Portugal via MadeiraStrategyBackground
The company pursued connections beyond its core Canary Islands network.
Action taken
Naviera Armas launched a service to Portimão with a stop at Madeira.
Aftermath
The route was withdrawn in 2013 after a dispute over harbour fees and later returned on a seasonal basis in 2018.
2003
Begin fleet renewalStrategyBackground
Naviera Armas needed to modernize its vessels and strengthen its passenger and vehicle-ferry offering.
Action taken
The company began a fleet-renewal plan with the arrival of Volcán de Tindaya.
Aftermath
The renewal program contributed to a fleet combining conventional ferries and fast ferries.
1975
Adopt roll-on/roll-off vesselsStrategyBackground
The company sought to improve the movement of vehicles and wheeled freight in the Canary Islands.
Action taken
Naviera Armas introduced the first roll-on/roll-off vessels in the Canary Islands.
Aftermath
The move supported the company’s later development as a combined passenger, vehicle, and freight ferry operator.
Sources1 sources
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