Fred. Olsen Express, social commitment as a fundamental pillar

A long history, spanning five decades, guarantees Fred’s constant commitment. Olsen Express with the archipelago. The shipping company strives to make traveling on its ships an accessible experience for society as a whole.

The company’s commitment to accessibility was the reason that led the Olsen family to promote maritime connectivity in 1974. Since then, its main premise has been to offer a quality service to respond to the needs of passengers in particular and of the Canary Islands in general. Points of sale accessible to any user or barrier-free boarding and disembarkation routes for strollers or passengers with reduced mobility are some examples.

Among the projects that it has carried out to meet this objective, the installation of magnetic loops in its fleet also stands out. A pilot project that began in 2022 on the Bajamar Express trimaran and continues to be implemented today in the rest of the facilities, allowing travelers with hearing disabilities to clearly hear the warning signs. This means that journeys are safer and more autonomous. These are sound systems that transform the audio signal into a magnetic field captured by the hearing aids or implants of people with hearing disabilities that are placed in the “T” position. Thus, the quality of the signal allows them to hear the sound cleanly and clearly, being able to adjust its volume.

In the words of Juan Ignacio Liaño, Fred’s fleet director. Olsen Express: «our commitment to universal access extends to our entire offer, including both spaces on land and on board. The goal is that anyone can enjoy our services with the greatest possible autonomy. Under this philosophy, in February 2022 we became the first company nationwide to obtain the AENOR accessibility certificate for the Bajamar Express and Bañaderos Express trimarans. And just one year later, we achieved certification in Universal Accessibility for the entire fleet and facilities, based on the UNE 170001 standard.

Flexibility and ability to respond to crisis situations

Transporting patients with medical emergencies or helping to transport emergency personnel to attend to different crises on the islands, such as the volcanic eruption of La Palma in 2021 or the Tenerife fire in 2023, are actions that Fred. Olsen Express carries out as part of its commitment to the social well-being of the Canary Islands.

The shipping company is characterized by the flexibility and adaptability of its services, especially at key moments. Another example of this is the reinforcements on their journeys on designated dates such as the Christmas period, carnivals, the Indianos, summer and sporting events that have a great following in the archipelago. A flexibility that demonstrates the company’s vocation to meet the demands of its travelers and offer them a more comfortable way of traveling. This also includes your furry passengers, for whom

In 2023, the company presented three accommodation options to choose from, according to their characteristics and needs: Pet carrier, Pet Room and Pet Sofa.