Adria Ferries studying a new Italy – Montenegro ferry link

By | 2024 newsletter week 12 | No Comments

The Ancona-based ferry company Adria Ferries is considering launching a new maritime link between Italy and Montenegro.

News agency ANSA reported that, during a meeting between Alberto Rossi (owner of Adria Ferries) and Milojko Spajic (Montenegro’s prime minister) held in Podgorica, the possibility of opening a new RoPax link between the ports of Bar and Ancona emerged.

However, Alberto Rossi told FERRY SHIPPING NEWS that “a preliminary study is underway for a regular link between Bari and Bar since the same route had been operated in the past through the company Adriatica di Navigazione”. Rossi also underlined that “the possibility to open up a new service depends also on the availability of our ships which are currently all employed”.

Adria Ferries controls a fleet of three ro-pax ships: two deployed on the Italy – Albania routes and a third chartered out to DFDS.

Technological Advancements Onboard Tallink Grupp’s Vessels Reduce the Negative Environmental Impact of Ships

By | 2023 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

Tallink Grupp recently conducted technical maintenance on the passenger ferry BALTIC QUEEN in Naantali. The maintenance included various works on the hull and interior, along with technological and environmentally friendly upgrades. One significant upgrade involved replacing the propeller blades with more innovative shapes to enhance the ship’s propulsion efficiency, leading to reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Additionally, testing results indicate a decrease in underwater noise generated by the ship, showcasing positive environmental impact. While further analysis is needed for the fuel consumption aspect, the reduction in underwater noise has already been confirmed.

Photo Baltic Queen propeller blades. Tallink Grupp.

Strategic changes within Adria Ferries’ fleet

By | 2023 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

Italy’s Adria Ferries recently acquired a vessel, renaming it AF MIA (formerly CRUISE SMERALDA). The company has relocated the ship to Croatia’s Viktor Lenac shipyard for technical enhancements and a makeover to incorporate the company’s branding and colours.

According to Alberto Rossi, the leader of the group overseeing Adria Ferries, AF MIA is anticipated to commence service between Ancona and Durres in Albania by the end of November or early December. This ship will replace the aging AF FRANCESCA, which is slated for sale (possibly to a scrapyard).

Meanwhile, the third vessel in Adria Ferries’ fleet, AF CLAUDIA, is set to be chartered out, as per Rossi. Previously, AF CLAUDIA operated on the Ancona–Durres and the Bari–Durres maritime routes.

Adria Ferries Confirms Acquisition of CRUISE SMERALDA for Its Fleet

By | 2023 Newsletter week 40 | No Comments
  • Adria Ferries, based in Ancona, Italy, has officially announced the acquisition of the ro-pax ferry CRUISE SMERALDA, previously owned by the Grimaldi Group.
  • The 1997-built CRUISE SMERALDA will begin its service in November, connecting both sides of the Adriatic Sea by operating between Italy and Albania.
  • Ferry Shipping News was the first to reveal this acquisition in September when the vessel, boasting a capacity of 1,500 passengers and 2,200 lane meters, was still in service with Finnlines, a part of the Grimaldi Group, on the Malmö – Travemünde route.
  • CRUISE SMERALDA arrived at the port of Ancona last week, marking a significant addition to Adria Ferries’ fleet.
  • Adria Ferries has reported impressive financial performance in 2022, with revenues of EUR 68 million and a profit of EUR 18 million. The company had been actively seeking additional tonnage for the past year to further enhance its operations.

Grimaldi’s CRUISE SMERALDA to Adria Ferries?

By | 2023 Newsletter week 35 | No Comments

The 1997-built ro-pax ferry CRUISE SMERALDA seems to be close to become a ship part of the Ancona-based Adria ferries fleet.

Market rumours, not confirmed but neither denied by the interested parties, say that Grimaldi Group is to sell the vessel currently deployed for Finnlines on the Malmö – Travemünde link to the Italian company active on the routes from the ports of Ancona and Bari to Albania.

CRUISE SMERALDA = 1,500 passengers | 2,200 lane meters.

Adria Ferries recorded very positive financial results in 2022 (EUR 68 million of revenues and EUR 18 million of profit) and has been looking for further tonnage at least for the last 12 months.

Adria Ferries welcomes Eurizon as new minority shareholders

By | 2021 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

Ancona-based Adria Ferries has welcomed Eurizon as new shareholder.

Stake is 33.3%, with and an option to grow to 43.3% before 31 December 2023.

Formally, the new minority shareholders of the company founded and controlled by Alberto Rossi, will be two investment funds: Eurizon Iter and Eurizon Iter Eltif.

They will be managed by Iter Capital Partners, a company founded by Vito Gamberale.

Adria Ferries is active in the Adriatic Sea on two routes linking Ancona and Bari with Durrës.

The fleet consist of three ro-pax ships AF CLAUDIA, AF MARINA and AF FRANCESCA.

In 2020 the company’s revenue was EUR 36 million, EBITDA 9 million and net financial position 21.4 million.

Adria Ferries Sold the Aged Ferry AF FRANCESCA to Libyan Buyers

By | 2021 Newsletter week 33 | No Comments
  • Ancona-based company Adria ferries, part of the Frittelli Maritime Group controlled by Alberto Rossi, has just sold the 1979-built ship AF FRANCESCA (ex DOMIZIANA).
  • Some sources revealed to Ferry Shipping News that the vessel was assumed to be bound for ship recycling while at the end it was sold to Libyan buyers and will go on operating.
  • It’s still unknown whether this North-African player is the same buyer of the SARDINIA REGINA recently sold by Corsica Ferries.
  • AF FRANCESCA has been operating for many years on the routes between Ancona and Bari to Durres, in Albania after Adria Ferries bought it from Tirrenia in 2011.
  • Main characteristics are: 150m length, capacity for 2,000 pax and 750 lane metres.

Adria Ferries Welcomes RoPax AF Claudia In Its Fleet

By | 2019 Newsletter week 47 | No Comments

The Ancona-based company Adria Ferries has presented the last entry in its fleet: the ropax AF CLAUDIA bought one year ago from Baja Ferries. She was operating as CALIFORNIA STAR in the Sea of Cortez. During summer she was chartered to Grimaldi Lines.

Here below some of the technical details of the ship, set to be deployed on the Italy-Albania route linking the ports of Ancona and Durres:

LOA 186.5m / 2,044 lane meters / 140 lorries and 75 cars in garage / 950 passengers / 76 cabins / 23 knots

The ship passenger capacity will be increased before 2021, in order to accommodate up to 1,800 pax. Number of cabins will be 200.

AF CLAUDIA, in order to be compliant with IMO Low Sulphur Cap 2020, has been fitted with scrubbers provided by the US-based supplier CR Ocean Engineering and installed at Viktor Lenac shipyard (part of Palumbo Group) in Rijeka, Croatia.

Adria Ferries today control a fleet of three ferries (AF CLAUDIA, AF MARINA and AF FRANCESCA) and a fourth unit is expected to be acquired in 2022.

CALIFORNIA STAR to be renamed AF Claudia

By | 2019 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments

AF CLAUDIA is the new name of the former ro-pax CALIFORNIA STAR which was recently bought by the Italian ferry company Adria Ferries. She will be deployed on the Ancona – Durrës maritime link as from next autumn. During the next summer season, the ro-pax unit will be chartered out.

As reported last December in Ferry Shipping News, the head of Frittelli Maritime group and of Adria Ferries, Alberto Rossi, announced the purchase of this ship from Baja Ferries for USD 45 million.

Currently the ship is still operating in Central America.

Other short news:

GNV AZURRA arrived in Brest, France, on 7 June. She will be used as accommodation ship at Damen Shipyards, for the refurbishment of cruise vessel SEVEN SEAS NAVIGATOR.

Virtu Ferries’ JEAN DE LA VALETTE is actually in Cadiz, prior to her Atlantic crossing, which is planned to start shortly. She will operate between Trinidad and Tobago.