Sea freight-link established between Malta and Libya

Mediterranean Maritime Services (MMS) said that the first commercial maritime service between Malta and Libya following the recent revolution in Libya is set to offer passengers a direct and reliable sea freight-link to commute between the two countries “in a reliable, safe manner and with minimal effort and cost”.

The service will be offered from Viset’s facilities at the Grand Harbour direct to Tripoli and will involve a direct 14-hour trip on board the ‘Ro-Ro passenger M/F Azzurra’ which can carry up to 170 cars, or 25 semi-trailers or similar commercial vehicles and up to 700 passengers who may avail themselves of 38 cabins offering 2, 3 and 4 bedroom accommodation.

The Azzurra will be leaving Valletta on Monday's and Friday's at 18.00, arriving in the port of Tripoli on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 10.00am. Return trips be on the same day at 18.00, entering the Grand Harbour on Wednesdays and Sundays at 10.00am.

Prices per passenger start from €85 and freight prices start from €500.

MMS is a new strategic partnership formed by Zammit Group, Fergün Shipping Co. Limited and BH Group.

Joseph Zammit, director of Zammit Group said that the service was created to re-establish the sea link between Malta and the North African country to provide a special focus on the Libyan market.

“Re-building Libya, its markets and opportunities it has to offer is a long process but we are very proud that our new service is going to be one of the catalysts for the start of this process. A transport and logistics system that is sound, reliable and safe is vital for any country and any economy and this is what we will be offering between Malta and Libya through this new service,” Zammit said.

He added that the service will be open to the Maltese business community such as “businesses doing or considering doing business in Libya, foreign businesses who will be interested in using Malta as a hub for both cargo or personnel destined for Libya, NGOs and aid organisations and to support the eventual flow of tourism”

“We are already experiencing a huge interest from the local and foreign market in this service which augurs very well for the whole venture. Mediterranean Maritime Services is committed to its corporate social responsibility and as such, specific transport assistance to aid organisations will be given free of charge,” Zammit said.

Director of Fergün Shipping Co. Ltd. Fehim Küçük said their fleet of nine vessels had a prominent role during the recent conflict in Libya.

“We helped in the evacuation of over 46,000 men, women and children within and from Libya to various countries including Egypt, Syria and Tunisia and our vessels were also chartered by UN international humanitarian agencies such as the International Organization of Migration (IOM), the World Food Programme (WFP) the Turkish Red Cross and also by the Kingdom of Qatar.

"There were times when although we were chartered to carry hundreds of passengers, due to the circumstances, we found ourselves carrying double the amounts and yet, we agreed to do this at no extra cost. Our company also provided a Catamaran which has been converted into a floating hospital,” Küçük said.