Working Conditions Aboard the Cape-Starr

In a significant move within the maritime sector, Gianluigi Aponte's Marinvest has finalized an agreement with Messina Group, enabling MSC to acquire both a minority stake in the Genoa-based shipping firm and the ownership of four key vessels. The investment amounts to €25 million ($28.5 million), securing MSC a 49% share in Ignazio Messina & C. while also gaining a 52% controlling stake in a new entity that will oversee four of Messina’s eight modern conro ships. The vessels under MSC's purview include the Jolly Diamante, Jolly Perla, Jolly Titanio, and Jolly Cobalto, marking a strategic enhancement to MSC's operating capabilities in the region.

The Port of Marseille is set to reinvigorate its maritime connectivity as Italy's Messina Line restarts its specialized ro-con service to East and Southern Africa. This vital operation had been on hold since April 2022, as confirmed by a press release from Marseille Fos. The service is set to recommence on Monday, August 27, featuring two state-of-the-art vessels, Jolly Perla and Jolly Diamante, both delivered in 2023. Additionally, Messina plans to enhance the fleet with two more ships currently under construction. These vessels represent some of the largest ro-con ships globally and mark a significant milestone as the largest ever operated by Messina from this prominent French cargo hub.