MOBY ALE DUE © Frank Lose

Court decision allowed transfer of five ferry-ownerships to proceed

FerryWith an order published on 20 December, the Lazio Regional Administrative Court rejected Grimaldi Euromed’s request for interim protection aimed at blocking the sale of five Moby ferries: MOBY AKI, MOBY WONDER, ATHARA, JANAS, and MOBY ALE DUE. The decision allows the transfer of ownership to proceed.

The court found no immediate risk of a structural or irreversible distortion of competition while the case is still pending. This assessment was based on two key factors: two of the vessels will remain available to Moby under a charter-back arrangement, ensuring continuity of operations, and the ownership transfer to an MSC Group company remains legally reversible.

As a result, the court cleared the way for the transfer of the ferries to SAS Shipping Agencies Services, MSC’s Luxembourg-based holding company. MOBY AKI and MOBY WONDER will be chartered back to Moby, while ATHARA, JANAS, and MOBY ALE DUE will be made available to GNV. The EUR 229.9 million sale price, set through a public auction, will be used to repay most of the EUR 243 million financing previously provided by the Gianluigi Aponte-controlled group to Moby and CIN.

Any remaining balance, if the proceeds prove insufficient, would be transferred to independent third parties under conditions compatible with Moby’s financial sustainability.

jan 09 2026