Moby Group (Moby Lines, Tirrenia, Toremar)

[fabthi]

Did the Moby Vinci always have no forward facing windows since built, or were these blanked out? Looks very odd to me. 

All those Tirrenia's high speed ferries, though very similar to MInoan's "Fincantieri" Palaces, were built without front windows. Don't know why. 

And for that, they're awkward.
IMHO 😇

[vikingvoyager]

Did the Moby Vinci always have no forward facing windows since built, or were these blanked out? Looks very odd to me. 

Quite an ugly ship all round, I would say

[Andy-Freeman]

Moby Niki seems to havea striking resemblance to Prinz Hamlet which I sailed on a few times on the Harwich/Hamburg route many years ago.....any connection?

thanks,

Andy

[HansP]

Moby Niki seems to havea striking resemblance to Prinz Hamlet which I sailed on a few times on the Harwich/Hamburg route many years ago.....any connection?

thanks,

Andy

Same shipsyard (Nobiskrug, Rendsburg), similar but not same design

regards
Hans

[krisu]

Did the Moby Vinci always have no forward facing windows since built, or were these blanked out? Looks very odd to me. 

All those Tirrenia's high speed ferries, though very similar to MInoan's "Fincantieri" Palaces, were built without front windows. Don't know why. 

I remember back in the days, there was the same question about NORDLANDIA, Ex-OLAU HOLLANDIA (1981), now ALMARIYA (IMO 7928811). The reason for the lack of windows in the bow was NATO. I do not recall now, if NATO wanted to keep this ship as an option to be chartered in an emergency situation or if they even intended to later purchase it. But the lack of windows was the result of being as undetectable int he dark from the bow as possible. Maybe the Tirrenias were built keeping this option open too...? Would be plausible, looking at the vessels' other specifications. This is just a guess though.

[MarkoPolo]

Did the Moby Vinci always have no forward facing windows since built, or were these blanked out? Looks very odd to me. 

Quite an ugly ship all round, I would say

Well, she looks like a cheaper and less fancy version of Minoan's Palaces. So not generally ugly, but this front,..?

[dogan]

Quite an ugly ship all round, I would say

And here is her Tirrenia near-sister Athara arriving in Genova the same morning (14/08/2023).
I think I still prefer the Moby livery to this one !

[hhvferry]

The Moby Lines summer season is drawing to a close. The Moby Corse and Moby Otta both arrived this morning on their final sailings of the year from Bastia and Olbia respectively whilst the Moby Drea is on the other end of the Olbia schedules and finishes up with her Genoa arrival tomorrow morning.

That's it for the Genoa-Bastia route for this year (the Moby Vincent, assuming she doesn't break down again, continues on Livorno-Bastia until late October). Various ships of the group but mostly Moby Aki and Moby Wonder continue to make Genoa-Olbia rotations, but now without the duplicate sailings of the Drea/Otta.

The Corse and Otta moved from the ferry port out to the Genoa shipyard area, joining the kaput Sardinia Vera and the long laid up Moby Dada. Assuming the Drea joins them there tomorrow all four of Moby's ex DFDS ships will be together in close proximity.

[Mk750]

The Moby Lines summer season is drawing to a close. The Moby Corse and Moby Otta both arrived this morning on their final sailings of the year from Bastia and Olbia respectively whilst the Moby Drea is on the other end of the Olbia schedules and finishes up with her Genoa arrival tomorrow morning.

That's it for the Genoa-Bastia route for this year

Not correct. 

Moby will sail from Genova to Bastia until first October weekend, on weekend only, so Moby Corse will come back. 

Maybe waiting directly in port is too expensive. 

[hhvferry]

The Moby Lines summer season is drawing to a close. The Moby Corse and Moby Otta both arrived this morning on their final sailings of the year from Bastia and Olbia respectively whilst the Moby Drea is on the other end of the Olbia schedules and finishes up with her Genoa arrival tomorrow morning.

That's it for the Genoa-Bastia route for this year

Not correct. 

Moby will sail from Genova to Bastia until first October weekend, on weekend only, so Moby Corse will come back. 

Maybe waiting directly in port is too expensive. 

Thanks for the correction, the Corsican ferries seem to still be carrying good loadings so it makes sense to carry on for a while longer.

[hhvferry]

Shipping Italy highlights that the Drea made a quick trip to Golfo Aranci this morning for berthing trials, ahead of use on a possible Golfo Aranci-Civitavecchia route. The news item also mentions renewal of the Elban subsidies for another year.

Moby Drea 18/09/23

It doesn't explain why Moby would want to operate from here in addition to their/Tirrenia's existing Olbia-Civitavecchia route (other than local subsidies or congestion at Olbia port).

It's also worth mentioning that Corsica Sardinia Ferries have run the Golfo Aranci-Civitavecchia route on and off in the past, that the port is exposed in some weather conditions (CSF's Livorno ships have been diverted to Olbia a couple of times recently) and that some of the setup there has a bit of the Heath Robinson about it.

It looks like the Drea trialled both the berths Corsica Ferries use there - the easterly one next to the old railway linkspans and the awkward arrangement across the piers that the picture of her shows, the same place the Mega Express Four is seen in the Google Earth image.

Moby Drea at Golfo Aranci © olbia.it

Golfo Aranci & Mega Express Four © Google Earth

Moby tested at the port of Golfo Aranci
The mayor of the Sardinian municipality Mario Mulas spoke about it in Olbianova, present at the tests together with the Tourism councilor Gianni Prontu, advocating the resumption of the Golfo Aranci - Civitavecchia connection at least for the summer period "which takes us back to when the State Railways operated on that route which now no longer exists. We hope that it will then extend to the whole year."

Mulas also took the opportunity to send a message to the Port System Authority chaired by Massimo Deiana: “We ask that the Port Authority carry out the works we have indicated. With a consultative resolution we have expressed the political direction of the port that we would like and, in particular, the strengthening of the docking for an additional ship, in addition to the cruise ship, and a tourist port for large yachts".

On the Moby front, meanwhile, there has been the formalization of the one-year extension, through 2024, of the agreement between the subsidiary Toremar and the Tuscany Region (over 13.3 million euros per year) for maritime territorial continuity services in the Tuscan archipelago, after the extension, which had become obvious due to the institution's long time in starting the procedure ( not without controversy ), had been de facto confirmed by the Region with the launch of the questionnaire which opened "the path that will lead to the awarding of the new maritime cabotage service by the end of 2024".


Shipping Italy Source - https://www.shippingitaly.it/2023/09/18/moby-ha-testato-lapprodo-al-porto-di-golfo-aranci/

Image source - https://www.olbia.it/golfo-aranci-futuro-del-porto-oggi-le-prove-tecniche-

[Mk750]

It can be that Moby will change departures of some ships. 

As the port of Olbia becomes every season smaller, and to small. 

Since Grimaldi added new RoRo Links to Olbia with freight ships , and Moby with big ships Fantasy and Legacy needs two places in the port, in the morning in the summer season even missing place. 

Already in this summer, passanger ships were sent to cargo terminal in Olbia to unload the cars ddue to missing space in the main port, currently also because of a high number of big cruise ships. 

 

[dogan]

To complete the Moby Group family album, here are a few Toremar ships spotted this summer.


Stelio Montomoli (ex-Aethalia) in Piombino on 21st August 2023.


Schioparello Jet (ex-Red Jet 5 of Red Funnel) arriving in Piombino on 21st August 2023.


Oglasa leaving Portoferraio on 21st August 2023.


Marmorica arriving in Portoferraio on 21st August 2023.


Rio Marina Bella leaving Portoferraio on 21st August 2023.


Rio Marina Bella leaving Portoferraio on 21st August 2023.


Giovanni Bellini leaving Piombino on 21st August 2023.


Giovanni Bellini leaving Piombino on 21st August 2023.


Stelio Montomoli leaving Piombino in the sunset on 21st August 2023.


Liburna leaving Livorno to Capraia on 22nd August 2023.


Liburna leaving Livorno to Capraia on 22nd August 2023.
 

[hhvferry]

The Corse and Otta moved from the ferry port out to the Genoa shipyard area, joining the kaput Sardinia Vera and the long laid up Moby Dada. Assuming the Drea joins them there tomorrow all four of Moby's ex DFDS ships will be together in close proximity.

Well here we go, the four ships together, seen from the departing GNV Allegra (if she'd left on time these would have been in daylight, but never mind 🙄)

Moby Dada, Moby Drea, Moby Otta & Moby Corse at Genoa 21/09/23 (ex DFDS Queen, Prince, Princess & Admiral of Scandinavia)

Moby Corse, Otta, Drea & Dada, Genoa 21/09/23

[ManiaNave]

Here are some photos from today of the Moby Wonder, Moby Tommy and Moby Corse in the port of Genoa.

Departure Moby Corse from Genoa 24/09

Moby Tommy docked Genoa 24/09

Moby Tommy docked Genoa 24/09

Moby Wonder docked in Genoa 24/09

[hhvferry]

With the Janas back in the fold (see here) she will now take over the Moby Tommy's sailings on the Genoa-Porto Torres route.

Although strangely enough the Tommy is in Olbia today with the Moby Wonder, very unusually, in Porto Torres. A quick look at the timetables suggests that, after returning from Olbia tonight, the Tommy is going to be taken out of service again.

Anyone know if that's going to be it for her for this year or if they have plans elsewhere. I don't think she's ever had her engine issues properly fixed so she hasn't troubled her theoretical top speed for a long time now.

[ManiaNave]

With the Janas back in the fold (see here) she will now take over the Moby Tommy's sailings on the Genoa-Porto Torres route.

Although strangely enough the Tommy is in Olbia today with the Moby Wonder, very unusually, in Porto Torres. A quick look at the timetables suggests that, after returning from Olbia tonight, the Tommy is going to be taken out of service again.

Anyone know if that's going to be it for her for this year or if they have plans elsewhere. I don't think she's ever had her engine issues properly fixed so she hasn't troubled her theoretical top speed for a long time now.

The engine problems on Moby Tommy were never resolved and the ship always went at 20 knots (according to some sources, the ship is without an axle?). This year Tirrenia will most likely be short of staff, given that it will have to say goodbye to Janas, Bithia and Athara as decided in the agreement

[Mk750]

Moby Tommy was planned for Livorno-Olbia first, but now Vinci is there, Genova-Porto Torres will be done by Wonder and Aki in Winter   

[hhvferry]

Moby Corse now back in Livorno for lay up after concluding her Genoa-Bastia sailings for the summer.

[ManiaNave]

In the coming months a Corsican design company will begin to develop a design for two new liveries that will arrive in the next few months on the ferries “Moby Vincent” and “Giraglia”

[hhvferry]

Will be interesting to see. And suggests the Vincent is secure for another year or two, into her sixth century of service, despite her occasional woes.
I wonder why Giraglia. I can imagine the Vincent merits something more subtle for Corsican routes, designed by a Corsican company but Giraglia's current livery is to the point and relatively recent.

[ManiaNave]

Will be interesting to see. And suggests the Vincent is secure for another year or two, into her sixth century of service, despite her occasional woes.
I wonder why Giraglia. I can imagine the Vincent merits something more subtle for Corsican routes, designed by a Corsican company but Giraglia's current livery is to the point and relatively recent.

Putting a livery (most likely racing style) on Giraglia makes sense as it operates mainly on Bonifacio-Santa Teresa di Gallura

[hhvferry]

The new route to Ajaccio and Porto Torres route is confirmed, starting in Genoa rather than Livorno as had been initially speculated.

Details are yet to be announced but this is presumably supplemental to the existing Genoa-Porto Torres ro-pax route operated overnight year round by the group's Tirrenia brand and supported by a (modest) government subsidy.

Also a Piombino-Bastia route is announced although this could be an extension of an existing ship's itineraries (e.g. a daytime diversion of the Moby Kiss maybe?) This route has been flirted with by various operators in the past.

Two new Moby lines between Italy, Corsica and Sardinia

Moby Orli © Moby Lines

Moby has announced two new lines between mainland Italy, Corsica and Sardinia.

The first of the new routes is the Genoa – Ajaccio – Porto Torres, a line “requested by the public who reach Corsica from all of the Italian North-West, Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, but also from the rest of the North, from Switzerland, Germany and the rest of Northern Europe”. The company explains that “with the line to Ajaccio the convenience doubles once you arrive in Corsica, with the possibility of reaching the capital – after a comfortable night crossing – without queues, saving hours of driving on the time it would have taken crossing the whole island”.

Moby also explains that “the extension of the line up to Porto Torres will allow to further increase the interchange between Sardinia and Corsica, both from a tourist and commercial point of view”. This bridge between Corsica and Sardinia will be added to the connection that Moby already ensures all year round with the Bonifacio – Santa Teresa di Gallura.

The second new line is the Piombino – Bastia defined as “a kind of sea metro between Italy and Corsica, given that it is the fastest of all the continental lines and the French island.

To allow passengers to enjoy Corsica also in spring and early autumn, seasons in which the island offers unique natural beauty, the lines between Livorno and Genoa and Bastia will start earlier (from Livorno already in March) and will end later”.

The presentation of these innovations in the connections between Italy and Corsica took place in recent days on board the Moby Orli, the ship of the Moby fleet that operated cruises on the Baltic Sea, with 400 cabins of all types completely renovated.

Completing this link between Italy and Corsica will also be the liveries of the ships that will serve the island, with the Moor’s head symbol of the French island and other typical Corsican elements, enriched by the color blue which is the one that most of all has always distinguished Moby and its ships. They were designed by the winners of the competition announced by Moby in the design schools of Corsica and awarded in recent days on board Moby Orli.

Source: https://news.italy24.press/local/936067.html

[hhvferry]

Moby group have opened Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily bookings for summer 2024. Elba and Giglio not yet open but I'd not really expect significant changes to these operations.

The pre-announced new Genoa-Ajaccio route is, in fact, somewhat intermittent and is a reworking of the schedules of the Moby Tommy and the Athara on the Genoa-Porto Torres route which call in at Ajaccio en-route. The Ajaccio calls are mid-week only.
The core schedule is (from both ends) d 2100, a 0730
When sailing via Ajaccio it is d Genoa 2100 a/d Ajaccio 0600/0700 a Porto Torres 1000 and d Porto Torres 2000 a/d Ajaccio 2300/2359 a Genoa 0800

As expected the revived Piombino-Bastia route will be operated by the Moby Kiss from the Piombino-Portoferraio route. This will run on peak Saturdays and Sundays only, d Piombino 0830 a Bastia 1130, d Bastia 1230 a Piombini 1530

Moby Drea and Moby Otta return (for their 50th and 49th summers respectively) on the Genoa-Olbia route. Moby Vincent celebrates her half century in 2024 and continues on the Livorno-Bastia route.

Moby Orli will finally take up her planned station on the seasonal Genoa-Bastia route in place of the Moby Corse.

The Corse, together with the Moby Dada, Moby Zaza, Bithia and Janas are not given roles at this stage.

Below is the combined Moby fleet deployment for next summer as currently indicated by the booking engine.

Moby Lines branded
Moby Fantasy - Livorno-Olbia
Moby Legacy - Livorno-Olbia

Moby Aki - Genoa-Olbia, Piombino-Olbia, Civitavecchia-Olbia, Genoa-Bastia (Bastia day returns only on Sat/Sun late June to 1st Sept, plus Fridays in August)
Moby Wonder - Genoa-Olbia, Piombino-Olbia, Civitavecchia-Olbia, Genoa-Bastia (Bastia day returns only on Sat/Sun late June to 1st Sept, plus Fridays in August)

Moby Vinci - Civitavecchia-Olbia, Piombino-Olbia, Genoa-Olbia

Moby Drea - Genoa-Olbia
Moby Otta - Genoa-Olbia

Moby Kiss - Summer Saturdays & Sundays Piombino-Bastia day trip. Rest of the time TBC but expect to run Piombino-Portoferraio
Moby Ale - TBC but expect to run Piombino-Portoferraio or Piombino-Cavo
Moby Baby Two - TBC but expect to run Piombino-Portoferraio
Moby Niki - TBC but expect to run Piombino-Portoferraio

Moby Dada - No allocation
Moby Corse - No allocation
Moby Zaza - No allocation, chartered to SNAV for Ancona-Split in summer 2023
Moby Vincent - Livorno-Bastia
Moby Orli - Genoa-Bastia

Bastia - TBC but expect to be used at Elba
Giraglia - TBC but expect to run Santa Teresa di Gallura-Bonifacio


Tirrenia branded
Athara - Genoa-[Ajaccio]-Porto Torres
Bithia - No allocation
Janas - No allocation, chartered to GNV for Genoa-Palermo in summer 2023

Sharden - Civitavecchia-Olbia, Piombino-Olbia, Genoa-Olbia

Vincenzo Florio - Naples-Palermo
Raffaele Rubattino - Naples-Palermo

Moby Tommy - Genoa-[Ajaccio]-Porto Torres


Toremar branded
Oglasa - TBC but expect to run Piombino-Portoferraio
Marmorica - TBC but expect to run Piombino-Portoferraio
Liburna - TBC but expect to run Livorno-Gorgona-Capraia
Stelio Montomoli - TBC but expect to run Piombino-Portoferraio
Giovanni Bellini - TBC but expect to run Piombino-Rio Marina

Rio Marina Bella - TBC but expect to run Piombino-Rio Marina, Piombino-Portoferraio

Schiopparello Jet - TBC but expect to run Piombino-Cavo-Portoferraio

Giuseppe Rum - TBC but expect to run Porto Santo Stefano-Giglio

[SilverDot]

Moby is upgrading five ferries Moby Vinci, Moby Aki, Moby Wonder, Moby Tommy and Sharden to reduce fuel use and emissions by fitting Kongsberg Maritime's Promas Lite system.

Promas Lite works by improving hydrodynamics with an optimised bulb and cap to improve fluid flow and reduce vortices creation, along with a re-bladed propeller to improve energy transfer efficiency from engine to movement for a 3 -5% reduction in fuel. Instead of just a re-bladed propeller Moby Wonder and Moby Tommy are having controllable pitch Kongsberg Kamewa propellers as part of their upgrade which according to Kongsberg could achieve greater fuel savings up to 20%. Other benefits include reducing noise and vibration onboard. 

The system is seen as a quick low cost upgrade option to improve efficiency reducing emissions and extend the life of vessels to comply with the incoming stricter regulations eg EEXI and CII, with these five ferries by 30k tonnes of CO2 per year. Moby and Kongsberg Hydrodynamic Research Centre, Sweden, have already completed work to design the individual ship propellers so they match the operational profile of each ferry.