The Canary Islands Government has reiterated to the Ministry of Transport that the new Public Service Obligation (OSP) maritime contract between Cádiz and the islands should include a mandatory stop in Puerto del Rosario, and not just as an optional improvement.
The Minister of Public Works, Housing and Mobility, Pablo Rodríguez, informed the Government Council this Thursday that the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has been asked again to ensure that the new maritime Public Service Obligation (OSP) between Cádiz and the Canary Islands guarantees a mandatory stop in Puerto del Rosario. The request, sent by letter to the General Directorate of Merchant Marine, aims to ensure that the stop in Fuerteventura is not relegated to a mere improvement that the operator may offer voluntarily.
Uncertainty due to lack of response from the Ministry
Rodríguez has denounced that the department he leads has not yet received a formal response to its request, which generates uncertainty on the island of Fuerteventura. The previous OSP contract ended on June 30, and the new tender for the period from July 2026 to December 2028 has not yet been initiated. “The tender did not occur before the contract expired,” lamented the minister, who has requested to know the planned schedule for the awarding and entry into force of the new service.
The Ministry had already requested information about the processing phase of the file, but the lack of response is causing discomfort within the Canary Executive. “We cannot allow bureaucracy to delay a vital connection for Fuerteventura,” Rodríguez emphasized.
Soaring costs and times for Fuerteventura companies
The minister explained that, without a direct stop, goods originating from or destined for Puerto del Rosario must first be transported to the ports of Arrecife or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to connect with the maritime route to Cádiz. This situation increases costs and transport times, reducing the competitiveness of the majorero economic fabric. “Fuerteventura companies are at a disadvantage compared to other islands,” he stated.
The island's export sector, especially linked to the agri-food industry and fishing, is the most affected. According to data from the Canary Government, the lack of a direct stop increases transport costs by an average of 20%, a burden that complicates the marketing of majorero products on the mainland.
A strategic demand for territorial cohesion
Rodríguez insisted that maintaining this connection is not only an operational issue, but constitutes a strategic element to ensure territorial cohesion, supply, and equal opportunities between the islands and the mainland. He recalled the status of the Canary Islands as an Outermost Region and its structural dependence on maritime and air transport.
“Preserving sufficient and stable maritime connectivity for the Canary Islands is essential for the economic development of the Archipelago,” the minister pointed out, linking this demand with the need to prevent Fuerteventura from losing competitiveness compared to other islands that do have direct stops.
The Canary Islands Government hopes that the Ministry will urgently address the request and that the new OSP will include the mandatory stop in Puerto del Rosario. Meanwhile, majorero companies continue to bear costs that hinder their activity. The next meeting between both administrations, scheduled for September, will be key to clarifying the uncertainty.
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