Key data
| Regulation | Resolution 420/38319/2026, of July 7, from the General Technical Secretariat — Agreement with Fred Olsen, SA, on subsidies for commercial maritime passenger fares |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | July 14, 2026 |
| Effective date | July 6, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Active military personnel and activated volunteer reservists using Fred Olsen national regular lines |
| Maximum subsidy (general routes) | 75% of commercial fare |
| Maximum subsidy (inter-island routes) | 50% of commercial fare |
| Maximum cumulative cap (multiple AGE subsidies) | 85% of commercial fare |
| Fred Olsen IT adaptation deadline | 1 month from REOICO registration |
| Category | Public Sector — Geographic mobility of military personnel |
| Official source | BOE-A-2026-15366 |
Active military personnel and activated volunteer reservists using Fred Olsen's national regular lines can benefit from July 6, 2026 onwards from a state subsidy of up to 75% on the commercial maritime passenger fare. The agreement, published in the BOE on July 14, 2026 under Resolution 420/38319/2026, is part of the policy to support geographic mobility of military personnel and their families.
The agreement is not exclusive: the Ministry of Defense can sign similar agreements with other shipping companies, which opens the door for this measure to be progressively extended to more operators in the national maritime sector.
What does this regulation establish?
The agreement sets the conditions under which the State subsidizes commercial maritime passenger fares on national regular lines operated by Fred Olsen, SA. The key points are:
- General subsidy: up to 75% of the commercial fare for travel on their own account by military personnel on national regular routes.
- Inter-island subsidy: limited to 50% of the fare on inter-island routes.
- Accumulation of subsidies: if the beneficiary is entitled to multiple compatible subsidies managed by the AGE, the maximum joint cap is 85%, with no combination able to exceed it.
- Purchase channel: Fred Olsen must allow the purchase of subsidized tickets online, using the military identity card as proof document.
- Technological adaptations: the shipping company has a deadline of one month from its registration in the REOICO (Registry of Entities, Organisms and Collaborating Institutions) to implement the necessary IT changes.
- Non-exclusive nature: Defense can enter into equivalent agreements with other shipping companies operating national regular lines.
The agreement is part of the policy to support geographic mobility of military personnel and their families, recognizing that the postings of active military personnel may involve frequent transfers between the mainland and the archipelagos or between islands.
Economic and operational impact
For military personnel, the direct savings can be very significant. On mainland routes or between the mainland and the Canary Islands operated by Fred Olsen, a 75% subsidy on the commercial fare can mean that a ticket of, for example, 200 euros is reduced to 50 euros for the traveler. On inter-island routes, with the 50% subsidy, that same 100-euro ticket would be 50 euros.
From an operational perspective, the impact for Fred Olsen is significant: the shipping company must make adaptations to its online sales systems to integrate military identity card validation as an accreditation mechanism. This process must be completed within one month from registration in the REOICO.
For the Ministry of Defense and the AGE, the agreement means assuming the cost of the subsidies granted, which implies the need to provision and manage the corresponding reimbursements to Fred Olsen for the discounts applied.
Who does it affect?
- Active military personnel traveling on their own account on Fred Olsen national regular lines.
- Activated volunteer reservists entitled to the same conditions as active personnel during their activation period.
- Fred Olsen, SA, as the shipping company required to implement technical adaptations and apply subsidies in the sales process.
- Ministry of Defense and AGE, as the financing party of the subsidies and manager of the agreement.
- Other shipping companies operating national regular lines, given that the agreement is not exclusive and Defense can extend similar agreements to the sector.
Practical example
A sergeant on active duty stationed in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria needs to travel on their own account on a Fred Olsen ferry between Gran Canaria and Tenerife. The commercial fare for the route is 80 euros.
Since it is an inter-island route, the applicable subsidy is 50%. The State assumes 40 euros and the military personnel pays only 40 euros.
If that same military personnel were entitled to a second compatible subsidy managed by the AGE (for example, due to residence), the sum of both subsidies could not exceed 85% of the ticket price, that is, a maximum of 68 euros discount on the 80 euros fare. The military personnel would pay a minimum of 12 euros.
To access the discount, the military personnel must prove their status through the military identity card in the online purchase process, once Fred Olsen has enabled this functionality on its sales platform.
What should companies do now?
- Military personnel and reservists: verify that Fred Olsen has completed the adaptation of its online platform (deadline: one month from REOICO registration) before attempting to purchase subsidized tickets through this channel.
- Fred Olsen, SA: immediately begin the development and integration of the necessary IT changes to validate the military identity card in online purchases, meeting the one-month deadline from REOICO registration.
- Defense units and personnel managers: inform active personnel and activated volunteer reservists of the availability of this subsidy and the accreditation procedure using military identity card.
- Other shipping companies with national regular lines: consider the possibility of negotiating similar agreements with the Ministry of Defense, given the non-exclusive nature of the agreement with Fred Olsen.
- AGE managers: review control mechanisms to ensure that the accumulation of compatible subsidies does not exceed the 85% cap established in the agreement.
Frequently asked questions
How much discount do military personnel get on Fred Olsen tickets?
The State subsidizes up to 75% of the commercial fare on general national regular routes. On inter-island routes, the subsidy is limited to 50%. If multiple compatible subsidies managed by the AGE are accumulated, the maximum joint cap is 85%.
How can military personnel buy a subsidized ticket on Fred Olsen?
Once Fred Olsen implements the required IT adaptations (deadline: one month from its REOICO registration), military personnel will be able to purchase subsidized tickets online using their military identity card as proof document.
Are volunteer reservists entitled to this subsidy?
Yes. The agreement expressly includes activated volunteer reservists, who are entitled to the same subsidy conditions as active military personnel during their activation period.
Can Defense sign similar agreements with other shipping companies?
Yes. The agreement with Fred Olsen is not exclusive, so the Ministry of Defense can enter into equivalent agreements with other shipping companies operating national regular lines.
When does this agreement come into force and when can it be used?
The agreement came into force on July 6, 2026 and was published in the BOE on July 14, 2026. However, for online purchase with military card, Fred Olsen has a deadline of one month from its REOICO registration to implement the necessary technical adaptations.
Official source
View complete regulation at official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-15366