Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Raffaele-Rubattino

On August 10, 2025, the ferry 'Raffaele Rubatino' experienced a significant fire in its engine room, leaving the vessel unable to navigate independently and necessitating the intervention of two tugboats for safe arrival in Naples. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the 155 passengers and the numerous vehicles aboard. The vessel had departed from Palermo and was en route to Naples when the fire ignited approximately 15 miles from the port. Although the crew quickly extinguished the flames, the resulting damage meant the ship required external assistance. Following a mayday call broadcasted by the captain, a coordinated rescue effort was launched by the Naples Port Authority. Two patrol boats swiftly responded to the emergency, while additional firefighting and medical teams were on standby at the dock for the scheduled evening disembarkation. As two tugs made their way from the port of Naples and attached themselves to the 'Raffaele Rubatino' for towing, the Port Authority also requested nearby vessels to be on alert for possible assistance. In a fortunate turn of events, the 'GNV Auriga', another ferry operating from Palermo, along with two Coast Guard vessels, arrived on the scene to provide further support. The quick actions of the crew played a pivotal role in combating the fire and averting a more serious situation, allowing the captain to confirm that an evacuation of passengers was unnecessary.

In a dramatic turn of events on January 19, 2025, at 2:30 a.m., the crew aboard the ferry 'Rafaelle Rubattino' handled a medical emergency involving a passenger suffering from chest pain while navigating approximately 40 miles off the coast of Ustica. The vessel was en route from Naples to Palermo when the situation arose. Swift action was taken as a team including a nurse and Dr. Liliana boarded the ferry via a Coast Guard launch. After assessing the patient, he was transferred to the launch for immediate medical evaluation, where an electrocardiogram was conducted. Once safely ashore in Palermo, the patient was promptly transported by ambulance to the Buccheri La Ferla hospital for further care. Fortunately, following the test results, concerns of a heart attack were alleviated, and the patient was able to move independently.

In a significant move to enhance migrant safety and support, a second quarantine ship will soon join the 'Raffaele Rubattino' in the picturesque bay of Palermo, located on the southeast coast of Sicily. Michele Di Bari, the Head of the Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration at the Italian Ministry of the Interior, has officially notified Roberto Ammatuna, the Mayor of Pozzallo, that tender envelopes for the deployment of this additional vessel have been successfully opened. This new ship aims to ease the pressures faced by Pozzallo and Lampedusa, two primary landing hot spots for migrants, especially as the upcoming summer months are expected to see an increase in landings. By establishing an interim solution with a second vessel, the Italian authorities hope to better manage the complexities associated with the reception of migrants along these critical routes.

On May 3, 2020, a significant event unfolded in Palermo as the quarantine period for 183 migrants rescued from the Mediterranean Sea aboard the ferry 'Raffele Rubattino' came to an end. After enduring two weeks on the vessel, these individuals were tested for COVID-19, with all results returning negative, allowing them to disembark on May 4. The group included 44 unaccompanied minors, raising concerns about their future care and safety as their next steps remained uncertain.