Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Moby-Otta

The ferry previously known as 'Moby Otta' has officially changed hands, now belonging to the Hoyu International Group Ltd. of China. Renamed 'Elpis', the vessel has also been reflagged and registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The transition was marked by the ferry's relocation from Genova to Livorno on October 1, where it remained docked as of October 16, preparing for its journey to the Far East to embark on new operations. This sale comes on the heels of the earlier transaction involving its sister ship, 'Moby Drea', which was sold in April to the Italian firm MedFuel Srl. 'Moby Drea' faced significant challenges when attempts to send her for scrapping in Turkey were thwarted due to a revoked import permit. Turkish authorities cited the ship's excessive levels of asbestos, exceeding local regulations for dismantling vessels. Consequently, 'Moby Drea' was towed to Split for asbestos removal, yet local protests led Croatian authorities to intervene and halt the procedure. As a result, the ferry, under the tow of the Greek tug 'Protug 75', returned to Crotone on September 6. Both ferries, 'Moby Otta' and 'Moby Drea', were previously operated by the Swedish company Salenrederierna AB through its Tor Line service, facilitating routes between Gothenburg, Felixstowe, and Amsterdam.

The 'Moby Otta', which shares its lineage with the contentious 'Moby Drea', is potentially on the brink of sale by Moby. Following this sale, a refit and subsequent charter could see the vessel operate between the key ports of Brindisi and Durres. However, Med Fuel, the management entity behind the 'Moby Drea', has made a decision to step back from this potential transaction. Although talks about the vessel have been active in the shipbroking market, negotiations have deliberately excluded the Messina-based Med Fuel due to the perceived high asking price. Should the 'Moby Otta' be presented with a more accessible price point, Med Fuel might reconsider its position. As it stands, the company is not actively pursuing involvement in the current market for this vessel.

The Moby Otta, owned by the same Italian shipping company as the Moby Drea, is slated to arrive in Split for urgent asbestos removal. Following the Moby Drea's arrival at Brodosplit shipyard, where approximately 350 tons of metal panels, including an estimated 100 tons of asbestos, are scheduled for safe extraction over the next two months, the Moby Otta will undergo similar procedures. This project, expected to cost around €500,000 per vessel, is essential for hazardous material removal. Notably, during the process at the Split shipyard, no cutting or crushing of the panels will take place; even screw holes will be treated with water and detergent to mitigate any risks. Concerns regarding the final destination of the extracted panels arose when journalists questioned local authorities about waste management. With Turkey imposing a strict limit of 50 tons for asbestos acceptance, and considering the Moby Otta may harbor at least 100 tons of asbestos, alongside the heavy metal panels, alternatives for disposal are actively being explored, as Croatia lacks such stringent restrictions.

The ferry "Moby Otta" remains detained as legal investigations proceed following a perilous incident that occurred during its voyage between Genoa and Porto Torres in October 2017. During this crossing, the vessel faced significant challenges due to a leak, yet the captain made the controversial decision to persist with the journey, raising serious safety concerns. In response, the Genoa Public Prosecutor has requested an expert assessment to scrutinize the circumstances surrounding the incident. Currently, the ferry is under seizure in Genoa. The company's appeal to have the vessel reinstated for service has been denied. As part of the ongoing investigation, five individuals have been implicated in misconduct, including Giuseppe Savarese, the company's head; Carlo Marco, manager of Moby Security; Alessandro Paone, technical director; Giuseppe Muti, technical inspector; and Carlo Merlini, the ferry's captain.

A heartbreaking incident occurred on September 26, 2010, aboard the ferry 'Moby Otta' (IMO: 7361324) in the harbor of Genoa, Italy. Two passengers tragically lost their lives when their car fell into the water after the vessel unexpectedly moved as they were passing over the vehicle ramp. The couple, hailing from Stuttgart, had already witnessed 40 vehicles pass safely before their unfortunate turn of events. As engines roared to life, the 'Moby Otta' advanced, creating a gap that allowed their vehicle to plunge eight meters deep into the harbor basin. While the husband was rescued, he was later pronounced dead. The wife, however, remained trapped inside the submerged vehicle. Investigations are currently underway to determine why the ship's engines activated unexpectedly. This incident raises serious safety concerns and highlights the need for better protocols during vehicular boarding processes.