Sicily ferry contracts extended another two years without tender

FerryThe Italian ferry operator Caronte & Tourist will continue operating the RoPax links between Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, the Egadi Islands, Ustica, and Pantelleria until 1 November 2027, receiving EUR 76.7 million in regional funding in addition to ticket revenues.

The Sicilian Regional Government approved the extension just before the latest deadline passed without a successful tender, preventing service interruption and potential layoffs. This is reported by the media Shipping Italy.

The government justified the direct award by citing the need to align several maritime service contracts to the same end date, although the main existing agreements actually expire later: the EUR 56 million per year State–Società di Navigazione Siciliana contract ends in April 2028, and the Region’s high-speed ferry contracts with Liberty Lines end in late 2027.

The only regional RoPax contract awarded via tender (Pelagie Islands) expires in October 2028. The Region ultimately aims to launch a single tender covering both RoPax and high-speed ferry services, though details and timing remain unclear. The newly re-awarded routes may therefore be extended further to bridge the transition to this unified contract, the media writes.

Nov 07 2025