Rete Ferroviaria Italiana has just made public the decision not to award to the Spanish shipyard Hijos de J. Barreras the order for a new ferry. The reason seems to be that some documents and certifications are missing with the submitted offer.
The new hybrid-powered ferry should be used to transport passengers, railway carriages and wagons, dangerous goods and rail tankers in the Strait of Messina, and railway wagons for the Sicily-Sardinia connection.
Contract price was EUR 74 million and delivery expected in 2024.
A new public tender is likely to be launched in the very near future.
