Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Moby-Aki

In a significant development, the Court of Milan has ordered the auction of five ferries, including the 'Moby Aki', 'Moby Wonder' (IMO: 9214367), 'Moby Ale Due' (IMO: 9222522), 'Athara' (IMO: 9263655), and 'Janas' (IMO: 9222534). Scheduled to take place next week, the auction starts with a bold price tag of €229.9 million for the entire lot. As part of the sale conditions, the 'Moby Aki' and 'Moby Wonder' are required to be chartered back to Moby for a minimum of 15 years, priced at €15,000 (approximately $17,200) per day. This auction announcement follows the Italian Competition and Market Authority's (AGCM) recent decision regarding the Mediterranean Shipping Company's (MSC) involvement with Moby, which raised concerns about competitive fairness in the ferry service market. Consequently, MSC divested its stake in the Italian ferry operator. In 2022, MSC's subsidiary, Shipping Agencies Services (SAS), acquired a minority interest in Moby at a time when it was grappling with financial instability. However, in November 2024, the AGCM initiated an investigation based on potential competition threats, given that SA also owns Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV), a competitor on several routes shared with Moby. The AGCM identified the potential for competition degradation between GNV, owned by SAS, and Moby. In light of these findings, SAS agreed to sell its 49% stake back to Onorato Armatori, a resolution that satisfies the competition authority and aims to restore equity in the sector.

A trial is set to commence over the tragic deaths of four racehorses from the Clodia stable aboard the 'Moby Aki' on July 13, 2020. The horses, valued at nearly one million euros, were en route from Civitavecchia to Olbia to participate in a race at the Chilivani racecourse. Investigations revealed that the horses succumbed to heat stroke while on the ferry's car deck during the journey. The ferry's captain, Antonio Scotto Di Cicariello, along with the first deck officer Francesco Lo Nostro, cadet deck officer Ernesto Prudente, and the truck driver responsible for transporting the horses, are all scheduled to stand trial on February 28, 2025. Defense attorneys Giovanni Cimmino, Francesco Longhini, and Maurizio Mani represent the accused. Prosecutors, alongside civil parties including Clodia stable, represented by lawyer Nazarena Tilocca, and the non-profit Horse Angels with attorney Giulia Cossu, have successfully argued their case. In addition, the preliminary hearing judge has ordered the Moby company and the road transport firm Pieraccini to be held civilly accountable in this matter.

A somber incident unfolded aboard the ferry 'Moby Aki' on April 15, 2022, as it completed its voyage from Olbia to Livorno. Upon arrival, crew members discovered a 55-year-old passenger unresponsive inside the saloon bar area of the vessel. Despite rapid resuscitation efforts by medical personnel who were promptly onboarded, the man could not be revived. The individual had been traveling alone, raising immediate concerns. Authorities, including Polmare and the scientific police, quickly initiated an investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.

In a strategic move to bolster its offerings on the Amsterdam-Newcastle route, Danish ferry and logistics operator DFDS has finalized a deal with Italy's Moby. This agreement involves DFDS acquiring two combined freight and passenger ferries, namely the Moby Wonder, which entered service in 2001, and the Moby Aki, built in 2005. In return, Moby is set to take over DFDS’s current passenger ferries on this route, specifically the King Seaways and Princess Seaways, which were launched in 1987 and 1986, respectively. The completion of this exchange is anticipated in the latter part of October 2019, marking a significant enhancement in ferry operations between the UK and the Netherlands.