New sea passenger services to Italy

Cargo traffic at the Freeport and the Valletta Gateway Terminal went up last year, Malta Maritime Authority chairman Mark Portelli said yesterday as new services were launched by the Grimaldi Group Naples. Mr Portelli said cargo traffic at the Valletta terminal went up by 30 per cent over 2007, while the Freeport saw a 20 per cent increase. “ It is a great opportunity to welcome a new service connecting Malta with northern Italy,” Mr Portelli said, as Grimaldi launched three new services to that country, including the first passenger services to Genoa and Civitavecchia. He said the new services would provide increased capacity and new opportunities for importers, exporters, and travellers.

A new ship, MV Catania, will also be operating a twice-weekly passenger route between Malta and Catania. With 93 cabin facilities, the ship can carry up to 834 passengers, 170 cars and 172 commercial trucks and trailers. Malta will also be connected to Igoumenitsa and Patras when Grimaldi starts operating weekly trips to the two Greek ports at the end of the month. The three new “ low-cost” passenger services form part of Grimaldi’s recently announced motorways of the sea services. The 36-hour passenger service to Genoa will leave the Italian port on Saturdays and Malta on Thursdays. The MV Catania will be leaving Civitavecchia for Malta on Tuesdays and returning on Mondays for a 26-hour trip. The sixhour service to Catania leaves Sicily on Sundays and Wednesdays and every Monday and Thursday from Malta.