Corsica Linea

Last updated
Corsica Linea
Company type Private company
IndustryMaritime Transport
(passengers and freight)
FoundedJanuary 5, 2016;8 years ago (2016-01-05)
FounderFrançois Padrona
Pascal Trojani
Headquarters,
France
RevenueIncrease2.svg €158 million (2021)
OwnerCM Holding
Number of employees
1104 employees (2021)
Website

Corsica Linea is a French shipping company that operates passenger, vehicle and cargo ferries in the Mediterranean Sea.

Contents

The company's nine vessels serve routes connecting Marseille with Corsica, Algeria and Tunisia.

History

On 20 November 2015, the SNCM, a previous ferry operator operating similar routes, was placed into receivership, having been in financial difficulties for more than a year. The assets of this company subsequently passed to Maritime Corse Méditerranée (MCM). Following this, a consortium of companies known as Corsica Marittima founded a new company named Corsica Linea, which commenced operations on 5 January 2016. [1]

The first route was started between Marseille and Bastia, initially using the vessel Stena Carrier, [2] hired from Stena Lines, then using Corsica Linea Dui, hired from Transfennica. [3]

On 17 February 2016, Corsica Linea and MCM announced their merger, with all MCM property moving to Corsica Linea and Patrick Rocca, the owner, becoming a member of Corsica Marittima, the operating consortium. [4] [5]

During the next year, the former SNCM fleet was repainted into a new red, white and black livery. The only former SNCM vessel not to move into the Corsica Linea fleet was Corse, which was sold in spring 2016. [6]

During the 2016 financial year, Corsica Linea estimated €170 million in revenue, a 40% increase compared to SNCM's operations in the previous year. [7]

In 2019, Corsica Linea announced an order for their first new RoPax ferry from Cantiere Navale Visentini in Porto Viro. A Galeotta entered service in 2023 on the Marseille-Bastia route and is the first ferry to serve Corsica that is powered by LNG, [8] demonstrating Corsica Linea's commitment to improving the energy performance and emissions of their vessels. [9]

On 8 January 2024, Corsica Linea announced the signing of a contract with Stena RoRo for a second new vessel, this time an E-Flexer powered by LNG. It will enter service in March 2026 on the Marseille-Ajaccio and Bastia routes, being chartered from Stena with an option for it to be purchased at a later date. It will be constructed at the AVIC Weihai Shipyard, Weihai, China. [10] The vessel is expected to transition to operate with either Bio-LNG or e-LNG at a later date in line with the company's objective to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. [11]

Fleet

ImageShipFlagBuiltEntered Service Gross tonnage LengthBeamPassengersVehiclesService speedCurrent status
Casa BIA.jpg Danielle Casanova Flag of France.svg 2002201641,447  GT 176 m30.4 m280070024 knotsLaid up in Marseille
Jean Nicoli Ajaccio.jpg Jean Nicoli Flag of France.svg 1998201629,968  GT 200.65 m25 m1500100026.4 knotsIn service
Pascal Paoli - Corsica Linea.png Pascal Paoli Flag of France.svg 2003201635,760  GT 176 m30.5 m55013023 knotsIn service
Le Paglia Orba a l'Ile Rousse en octobre 2021 (cropped).jpg Paglia Orba Flag of France.svg 1994201629,718  GT 165.8 m29 m60012023 knotsIn service
Bateau Monte Oro Port - L'Ile-Rousse (FR2B) - 2021-09-11 - 4.jpg Monte d'Oro Flag of France.svg 1991201622,070  GT 145 m25.7 m52813020.7 knotsIn service
Mediterrannee Marseille 30 Juin 2023.jpg Méditerranée Flag of France.svg 1989201630,985  GT 165.8 m27.4 m278080024 knotsLaid up in Marseille
Corsica-Linea-Vizzavona-2021 (cropped).jpg Vizzavona Flag of France.svg 1999201830,114  GT 188 m28.7 m80013023 knotsIn service
A Nepita Marseille 03072023 1.jpg A Nepita Flag of France.svg 2002202030,551  GT 203 m25 m120050022 knotsIn service
Gota bastia (cropped).jpg A Galeotta Flag of France.svg 2022202337,599  GT 206 m28.2 m100014922 knotsIn service

Routes

The Corsica Linea fleet makes round trips between Marseille and the ports of Ajaccio, Bastia, Ile Rousse, Propriano on Corsica. In addition, there are weekly departures from Marseille to the Algerian ports of Algiers and Béjaïa, as well as to Tunis. [12] [13] [14] [15] Seasonal connections to Skikda operate from June to September. [16]

LinesDurationVesselFrequency
Marseille ↔ Bastia13 hours on averagePascal Paoli
A Galeotta
Vizzavona
Daily
Marseille ↔ Ajaccio12 hours on averageVizzavona
A Galeotta
On alternate day
Marseille ↔ Ile Rousse12 hours on averageMonte d'Oro3x weekly
Marseille ↔ Propriano13 hours on averageA Nepita3x weekly
Marseille ↔ Tunis22 hours on averageJean Nicoli
Danielle Casanova
1x weekly ; 3x weekly (June–September)
Marseille ↔ Algiers22 hours on averageJean Nicoli
Méditerranée
1x weekly ; 3x weekly (June–September)
Marseille ↔ Béjaïa22 hours on averageJean Nicoli1x weekly
Marseille ↔ Skikda22 hours on averageJean NicoliSeasonal (June–September)
Sète ↔ Béjaïa22 hours on averageJean NicoliSeasonal (June–September)
Sète ↔ Skikda22 hours on averageJean NicoliSeasonal (June–September)

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References

  1. "Corsica Linea". Direct Ferries. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  2. "Ro-pax blocked in Marseille". Tradewinds News. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  3. "M/F Caroline Russ". The Ferry Site. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  4. "Corse : Rocca va céder 100 % de MCM à Corsica Maritima (in French)". Le Marin. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  5. "Ferries and Linéa Corsica plan the fusion". Informare. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  6. "M/F Grand Ferry". The Ferry Site. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  7. "On brand identity, strategies and performance - a conversation with Pierre-Antoine Villanova of Corsica Linea". Shippax. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  8. "Corsica Linea to take delivery of first LNG ferry in 2022". LNGPrime. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  9. "A Galeotta - Corsica Linea's newest ship boasts extensive passenger and freight capabilities". Baird Maritime. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  10. "Corsica Linea signs a contract with Stena RoRo for E-Flexer". Shippax. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  11. "Stena orders a thirteenth E-Flexer ferry for Mediterranean service". NI Ferry Site. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  12. "Your ferry crossing between Marseille and Corsica". Corsica Linea. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  13. "Travel to Maghreb by ferry from Marseille". Corsica Linea. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  14. "Marseille-Algiers by ferry". Corsica Linea. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  15. "Direction Bejaia from Marseille with CORSICA linea". Corsica Linea. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  16. "Direction Skikda from Marseille with CORSICA linea". Corsica Linea. Retrieved 13 January 2024.

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