The ferry Ciudad de Ibiza is due to be formally handed over to its new owner, Arab Bridge Maritime (ABM), at the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on Thursday 24 September.

The handover follows the sale of the vessel by the Armas Mead family to the Jordanian shipping company and the agreed termination of its charter with Baleària.

The ferry has spent recent months operating in the Canary Islands, where it has been used on the inter-island connection between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Handover scheduled in Las Palmas

According to the latest maritime information, the formal delivery of the Ciudad de Ibiza to ABM is scheduled to take place on Thursday 24 September at the port of Las Palmas.

The delivery marks the next stage in a sale that was first reported earlier this month.

The vessel was previously expected to be handed over before the end of September, with the latest update now providing a specific date and location.

Sold to Arab Bridge Maritime

The Ciudad de Ibiza has been sold to Arab Bridge Maritime, commonly known as ABM.

The company is based in Jordan and operates ferry services connecting Jordan with Egypt across the Red Sea.

The acquisition will move the vessel into a new ownership and operating environment after years of association with Spanish shipping companies.

Baleària charter comes to an end

The sale also brings an end to Baleària's charter of the Ciudad de Ibiza.

The vessel had been operating for Baleària Canarias, principally on the cargo service between the two main Canary Island capitals.

The agreement between the vessel's owners and Baleària includes the termination of the existing charter.

Baleària is expected to assume the labour liabilities associated with the affected crew members and reassign them within its wider fleet.

Recent service between Tenerife and Gran Canaria

The Ciudad de Ibiza has recently been operating on the route linking Santa Cruz de Tenerife with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Baleària's current route information lists the Ciudad de Ibiza among the vessels operating on the connection, alongside the fast ferries Mercedes Pinto, Volcán de Taidía and Volcán de Tagoro.

The crossing takes approximately one hour and 40 minutes, with the route operating daily.

The Ciudad de Ibiza offers passenger seating and premium cabins in addition to its roll-on/roll-off capability.

A replacement vessel returns to the Canaries

The change in ownership coincides with the return of the Al Andalus Express to the Canary Islands.

The vessel spent the summer operating in the Balearics, where it provided additional roll-on/roll-off cargo capacity between Palma and Ibiza.

After the summer campaign, it was repositioned towards Las Palmas, where it is expected to replace the Ciudad de Ibiza in the Baleària Canarias operation.

This fleet movement means the departure of the Ciudad de Ibiza can take place without leaving the Canary Islands operation without an additional vessel.

The Ibiza connection

Despite carrying the name of Ibiza, the Ciudad de Ibiza has not recently been operating on an Ibiza passenger route.

Its recent role has been in the Canary Islands, while the Al Andalus Express has been the vessel connecting this story directly with Ibiza during the 2026 summer.

The Al Andalus Express spent the summer supporting cargo movements between Mallorca and Ibiza before returning to the Canary Islands.

A long Spanish ferry history

The Ciudad de Ibiza has a long history within the Spanish ferry sector and has previously operated under other names.

The vessel became associated with the Trasmediterránea and later Armas shipping networks before being operated under charter by Baleària.

Its sale to ABM therefore marks another change in ownership for a vessel that has spent much of its working life connected to Spanish maritime services.

What happens after the handover?

The precise future deployment of the Ciudad de Ibiza under ABM has not yet been announced.

The formal delivery on 24 September will transfer the vessel to its new owner, after which its next operating destination will depend on ABM's plans.

The sale therefore represents a change of ownership rather than the announcement of a new route.

Another change in Baleària's fleet

The departure of the Ciudad de Ibiza is part of a wider adjustment of Baleària Canarias' vessel deployment.

The return of the Al Andalus Express provides additional capacity in the Canary Islands following its summer assignment in the Balearics.

For Ibiza, the 2026 movement has highlighted the way Baleària can reposition vessels between its Balearic and Canary Islands operations according to seasonal requirements.

The Ciudad de Ibiza will now leave that network, with its formal handover to ABM scheduled for 24 September in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.