- Corsica Linea and La Méridionale, the two candidates for the DSP 2023-2029 (Delegation of Public Service) cannot open the bookings for 2023, because the DSP has not been finalized yet
- The Government said it did not want to increase the budget of EUR 187 million.
- A big issue is the fuel compensation, which was EUR 21 million in 2021, and EUR 56 million in 2022.
- Another issue is the complaint of local freight forwarders, saying that up to 400 trucks a month have to stay on the quay because a lack of capacity.
- Although it is about a public service, several people complain about the fact that the decision-making process is not transparent.
As from 20 October 2022, La Méridionale will connect Tanger Med with Barcelona and Marseille.
- GIROLATA on Tanger Med – Marseille every 5 days
- PELAGOS on Tanger Med – Barcelona twice a week (previously assigned on Tanger Med – Alicante – Marseille).

STEF, specialist in temperature-controlled transport and logistics for food products, announced a turnover of €3.5 billion for the year 2021, up 11.5%, including €950 million for the 4th quarter, which is up by 15.2%.
During Q4, La Méridionale achieved the expected performance on its crossings to Corsica under the current public service delegation.
On the Marseille-Tangier line, the company was affected by the closure of the Moroccan borders which considerably reduced passenger traffic in early December, even though its freight activities are showing a steady increase in fill rate.

- As from June 15, La Méridionale will offer 3 weekly departures between Marseille and Tanger Med.
- Ships: GIROLATA and PELAGOS
- Sailing each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from each port

No surprise: the Corsican Assembly has voted to attribute the 5 subsidised ferry lines to Corsica Linea and La Méridionale. (public service contract).
Route 1: Marseille – Ajaccio: Corsica Linea & La Méridionale
Route 2: Marseille – Bastia: Corsica Linea
Route 3: Marseille – Portovecchio: Corsica Linea
Route 4: Marseille – Propriano: La Méridionale
Route 5: Marseille – Ile-Rousse: Corsica Linea
Period: 1 March 2021 – 31 December 2022
Earlier it was reported that Corsica Ferries’ offer was rejected (because of “non-compliance of the offer”).
La Méridionale‘s opens the previously announced Marseille-Tangier-Marseille route on 14 November with 3 sailings each way per week, using the GIROLATA and PELAGOS.
Suardiaz Group is going to launch a roro line between Tangier Med and Barcelona on 7 November.
It will run twice weekly and be able to transport all types of cargo, but especially textile, fruit and vegetables, distribution, retail and spare parts for the automotive industry.
CMA CGM started a service between Tangier and Marseille in 2017, but this was short-lived.

STEF-owned ferry company La Méridionale announced the cancelation of 90 agreements regarding terms of employment. All the agreements will be renegotiated with the unions, both for the crews and the shore staff. This should be done by the end of the year.
The fact that the company lost the major Corsican ports in the 15-month transitional contract (to Corsica Linea) did not help the finances, especially not together with the pandemic.
However, owner STEF is a strong logistics group.
La Meridionale also bought PELAGOS (DFDS – LIVERPOOL SEAWAYS – EUR 30,6 million) before Covid. The ship is still laid up in Le Havre.

Public Service Contract for Corsica: What’s Up?
In January 2020, Corsica Linea and La Méridionale submitted a joint application for the public service contract for the links with Corsica. (Ferry Shipping News)
This new contract should start on 1 January 2021 (until end of 2027), but so far, no decision has been taken.
Two ongoing investigations are disrupting the decision schedule:
- Investigating the creation of a SEMOP (a company owned 50.1% by Corsican authorities and 49.9% by private operators). French Competition Authority is investigating its impact on competition and will deliver its advice to the Government in October.
- Investigation launched by the European Commission on 28 February 2020, about the allocation to Corsica Linea of rotations between Marseille and Bastia, Ajaccio and L’Ile-Rousse as part of the ongoing contract. European Commission must deliver its conclusions by the end of 2020.

Corsica Linea and La Méridionale have finally agreed to join forces for the public service contract for maritime services between Marseille and Corsica, from 1 January 2021 till 31 December 2027.
Right on time, because the deadline was 14 February 2020.
In this common project, Corsica Linea would have an exclusivity for the port of Bastia (source: Le Journal de la Marine Marchande). Remember, before, La Méridionale used to operate ropax PIANA on this route.
Since 10 January a strike is immobilising all Marseille – Corsica ferry operations. The unions want to have guarantees for jobs at La Méridionale, and they want the ships to be able to sail on the two main routes, Ajaccio and Bastia. The strike is also related to the countrywide protest against Macron’s pension reform plan.
From what we understand, this year’s public service contract, which runs until 31 December 2020, will be divided in two periods, from now until end of April, and from May until the end of the year. For the second part a new tender will be issued.
Since 10 January unions from La Méridionale are on strike. They started a blockade, affecting two of their ferries and three from Corsica Linea.
What they want is an agreement for a new cooperation between La Méridionale and Corsica Linea, to operate the Corsica routes together, as in the past.
They fear that La Méridionale will have to close business. The company lost the two most important routes, Bastia and Ajaccio, which has the highest number of freight.
On 9 January, a new call for operators for the secondary routes (Marseille – Propriano and Marseille – Porto Vecchio) has been launched, for a temporary public service contract until end of 2020. Why? Because the ‘Office des Transports Corse’ deemed that the estimated capacities were wrong, after recalculating them. They say that on Porto-Vechio 220,000 lane metres are needed, whilst only 160,000 have been foreseen. It is the other way around in Propriano, where 66,000 is enough, against 96,000 planned.
There is a lot of criticism on this cancellation of the previous public service contract, “as if the rules of the game were changed during the game.”
DANIELLA CASANOVA has been diverted to Toulon. However, when the ship arrived in Ajaccio on Monday evening, the unions decided not to let her disembark passengers. DANIELLE CASANOVA and MEGA ANDREA have been rerouted to Propriano, where the port was guarded by police.
The crisis comes at a time when tourists start to think about their summer holidays.
Corsica Linea also had to cancel the crossings to Tunisia and Algeria.
