Discover the Moby-Ale-Due: Ratings & Maritime News

In an exciting development for maritime enthusiasts, GNV, a subsidiary of MSC, has officially revealed new names for two of the five former Moby ferries that have recently transitioned to the MSC Group. The 'Moby Ale Due' will now sail under the banner of 'GNV Pegasus', while the 'Athara' will adopt the name 'GNV Phoenix'. This follows the renaming of the 'Janas', which will be rebranded as 'GNV Altair'. It's worth noting that the remaining two ferries from the transfer, 'Moby Wonder' and 'Moby Aki', will retain their original names, as they are chartered back to Moby. This change marks a new chapter for these vessels within the GNV fleet.

In a significant move orchestrated by the Court of Milan, five ferries including the 'Moby Aki' (IMO: 9299393), 'Moby Wonder' (IMO: 9214367), 'Moby Ale Due', 'Athara' (IMO: 9263655), and 'Janas' (IMO: 9222534) are set to be auctioned next week with a combined starting bid of €229.9 million for the entire lot. Notably, both the 'Moby Aki' and 'Moby Wonder' are required to be rechartered back to Moby for a duration of 15 years, with a daily charter fee of €15,000 ($17,200). This development follows a recent decision by the Italian Competition and Market Authority (AGCM), which expressed concerns that the Mediterranean Shipping Company’s (MSC) ownership interest in Moby could compromise competitive fairness in regional ferry services. In light of these findings, MSC divested its stake in the Italian ferry operator. The stake was acquired in 2022 by the MSC subsidiary Shipping Agencies Services during a period of financial distress for Moby. However, an AGCM investigation initiated in November 2024 raised alarms regarding potential anti-competitive practices, given that SAS also holds ownership of Grandi Navi Veloci, a competitor on several routes utilized by Moby. To address these competition issues, SAS has agreed to sell its 49% share back to the original owner, Onorato Armatori, a transaction that has received the AGCM's approval.

On December 19, 2024, at 10 p.m., the Moby Ale Due encountered a fire on its car deck while navigating from Porto Torres to Genoa. The incident, which originated from the engine of a refrigerated truck, was swiftly managed by the vessel's onboard firefighting systems. As a precautionary measure, the ship made a prompt return to Porto Torres, taking less than two hours into the journey to reach safety. Upon arrival, local firefighters and members of the port authority boarded the ship to conduct a thorough inspection. Following a successful assessment, the passengers were allowed to remain on board for the night in complimentary cabins. The next morning, they were transported by Moby-operated buses to Olbia, where they could continue their journey on another vessel, the Moby Tommy, to Genoa. For more details, including photos and video footage of the event, visit: https://www.unionesarda.it/de/sardinien/angst-um-268-passagiere-der-moby-fahre-feuer-in-der-garage-das-schiff-kehrt-nach-porto-torres-zuruck-ippxzyg2

In a significant move within the maritime sector, Italian shipping firm Cin has finalized an agreement to acquire Tirrenia Navigation for €380 million (approximately $459 million). This acquisition involves collaboration with major financial institutions, including Unicredit bank, MPS, BPM, Banca Popolare di Vicenza, and Banca Intesa Sanpaolo. The final steps to complete the deal are set to unfold in Rome, where the agreement will be signed and ratified by Giancarlo D'Andrea, the special commissioner for Tirrenia, alongside Ettore Morace, the CEO of Cin. This pivotal signing is expected to take place later this month, marking a new chapter in Italy's ferry service landscape.

In a significant disruption on the evening of June 26, 2011, the ferry 'Bithia' became incapacitated at the port of Palermo due to a critical generator failure. Scheduled to depart for Naples at 8:15 p.m., the vessel, with 400 passengers and numerous vehicles already on board, was effectively immobilized for over seven hours. As the engine faltered, passengers faced uncomfortable conditions; the air-conditioning system ceased to function, and with the onboard bar closed, they were left without access to water for several hours. This unexpected incident raised concerns about passenger safety and the operational reliability of ferries serving popular routes.