As many travellers leaving Malta by sea are aware, no passenger and private car service is currently available from Malta to Italy.

Up until last year, there was a connection between Malta and Civitavecchia while previously we had connections to Livorno and Genoa. But all these lines either closed down their Malta route or else decided not to take on passengers but reserved their sailing for freight.

In fact, somebody travelling up to the North of Italy, and further on, by car would first need to take a ferry from Malta to Pozzallo or Catania, then either drive up the Autostrada del Sol (A1) or drive to Palermo or Catania and take another ferry from there to the north. This involves travellers from Malta in longer travelling time and additional expense.

But things are starting to change in the right direction again. Gollcher Group have just concluded the arrangements for a new passenger and private car ferry from Malta to Salerno, with a stop in Augusta, Sicily, thus considering reducing the travelling time for those going further north, or to those area themselves.

The ship being used is the Audacia, which is a modern Ro-Ro/passenger ship built in 2007 with a length of 199 metres and a beam of 34 metres. Gross tonnage is 25,058 and deadweight 8,500 tons. Capable of a top speed of 23.1 knots, the ship promises relatively short voyages.

During the summer, the vessel will arrive in Malta every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and will leave Malta every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Bookings will start being accepted as from this week with the first arrival on 28 June. Bookings for cargo on board this vessel are being accepted at the Gollcher Valletta office on telephone number 2569 1100, while passenger and private vehicle bookings will be accepted at the Valletta office, Gollcher’s Sliema office on telephone 2133 4051, and from the Gollcher office at the passenger seaport.

Incidentally, this new service will also work in the opposite direction as well, that is bringing tourists to Malta from Italy who would not normally come because of the long drive to Pozzallo.