As from next July, the Group’s maritime services between Apulia and Greece will be strengthened through the deployment of a third ship.
NAPLE – The Grimaldi Group announces the enhancement of its maritime services between Italy and Greece with the launch, as from the 6th of July 2015, of a new regular line that will connect the ports of Brindisi, Igoumenitsa and the island of Corfu. The new service will run in addition to the one already offered throughout the year by the Neapolitan group between the ports of Brindisi, Igoumenitsa and Patras, operated by the two modern ferries “Euroferry Olympia” and “Euroferry Brindisi”.
Dedicated to the transport of both freight and passengers, the new Brindisi-Igoumenitsa-Corfu service will be offered by deploying a third vessel, the modern ferry “Catania”. With a length of 186 meters and a gross tonnage of 26,000 tons, the “Catania” is able to transport 2,250 linear meters of rolling cargo, 1,000 passengers and 170 cars. Built in 2003, the vessel has 93 cabins – between internal, external and suites – and 62 reclining seats and offers all the amenities that make the journey a pleasure experience: a self-service restaurant, a cafeteria, video games and a slot machine area, a shop, a solarium with sun loungers and a bar.
The frequency of the service between Brindisi and Corfu will be four times a week with departures from the Apulian port on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 12:00 a.m. and arrival in Corfu at 7:00 p.m. The voyage back to Brindisi is scheduled at 11:59 p.m., with arrival the day after at 08:00 a.m.
In order to satisfy the summer tourist demand, from the 27th of July until the end of August, the service will become daily, thus increasing the overall capacity for freight and passengers. The departure and arrival times will be the same as listed above.
With the deployment of the vessel “Catania”, seven new weekly departures from Brindisi to Igoumenitsa and vice versa will also be offered. The departure from the Apulian port will be daily at 12:00 a.m., arriving in Igoumenitsa on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 8:00 p.m. while the rest of the week at 9:00 p.m. The departure from Igoumenitsa to Brindisi is scheduled daily at 10:00 p.m., arriving in Brindisi the day after at 08:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and at 06:00 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
“After having chosen Brindisi as one of its main hubs in the Mediterranean for the transport of freight and passengers, the Grimaldi Group proceeds to serve the traditional maritime link between Brindisi and Corfu”, declares Hercules Haralambides, President of the Brindisi Port Authority. “This new development is welcomed by the Brindisi community and further consolidates the port as an international harbour of undisputed importance for the Apulia Region, both for the transport of freight and passengers”, concludes President Haralambides.
“Since we launched our services from Brindisi to Greece back in 2012, we have ensured their continuity and reported a great success” says Emanuele Grimaldi, Managing Director of the Grimaldi Group, along with his brother Gianluca. “The launch of the new summer connection to Corfu confirms the commitment of the Group to meet the needs of the market, especially tourists to whom a reliable and quality service on modern ferries will be offered at convenient fares,” concludes Emanuele Grimaldi.
With the new Brindisi-Igoumenitsa-Corfu service, the Grimaldi Group strengthens its presence in Brindisi, by offering during next summer season as many as 14 weekly departures to Igoumenitsa, seven to Patras, four and then seven to Corfu, thus making the Apulian port the first one in the Southern Adriatic in terms of number of connections to Greece. The weekly loading capacity offered by the Group between the two shores of the Southern Adriatic Sea will be able to meet the needs of the most demanding customers.
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