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The Grimaldi Group continues its policy of expanding its activities in the Western Mediterranean by opening a new maritime connection for freight and passengers between Italy, Spain and Morocco.
As from next November 20th, the new weekly service will regularly link the Moroccan port of Tangiers (Tanger Med) with Livorno and Valencia. Departure from Livorno will be every Saturday at 11.59 p.m, with arrival in Valencia on Mondays at 8.00 a.m.; departure from Valencia will be the same day at 2.00 p.m., with arrival in Tangiers on Tuesdays at 8.00 a.m. The vessel will then depart from Tangiers on Tuesdays at 12,00 a.m. and arrive in Valencia on Wednesdays at 08.00 a.m. Departure to Livorno will be the same day at 02.00 p.m. with expected arrival in Livorno on Thursdays at 07.30 p.m.
The Livorno-Valencia-Tangiers route will be served by the modern ro/pax high speed ferry “Ikarus Palace”. With a service speed of 27 knots, a loading capacity of 2,130 lane metres for rolling cargo in addition to 110 cars, the “Ikarus Palace” is able to accommodate 1,500 passengers in 200 cabins and 180 comfortable reclining seats. The vessel is equipped with a la carte and self service restaurants, two lounges, two swimming pools, a shopping centre, a discotheque, an internet point, a rich variety of video games and a children’s playground. With the new Livorno-Valencia-Tangiers service, the Neapolitan Group aims to strengthen its presence in North Africa, offering an innovative service both for freight and passengers. Thanks to this initiative, the port of Tangiers will not only be connected to Valencia and Livorno but also, via transhipment in Valencia, to Cagliari (Sardinia) and Salerno (Southern Italy).
“This new maritime service establishes a sea bridge between Italy, Spain and Morocco, and aims at giving a support to the expanding trade relations between North Africa and the Western Mediterranean while offering both tourists and the huge community of Moroccans living in Italy and Spain a new opportunity of travelling to this part of Maghreb” highlights Emanuele Grimaldi, joint managing director of the Grimaldi Group. “Through the deployment of the “Ikarus Palace” we will offer a high quality service, while generating important environmental savings by shifting a considerable number of trucks and passenger cars from the congested European motorways to this new motorway of the sea”, concludes Emanuele Grimaldi.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
