Over the last 10 months the Italian transport ministry asked ferry companies for ropax units to be used as “floating quarantine hotels” for migrants arriving on the Italian coasts from North Africa.
Earlier this week the same ministry published an updated resume of the awarded contracts: GNV €34.5m and Moby €1m.
Some other ferry companies such as CIN, Forship and the Greek firm Galaxy Maritime S.A. submitted offers but were excluded or emerged as second best.
GNV ALLEGRA is the third GNV ferry deployed as accommodation vessel for quarantined migrants.
Soon after this news, it was announced that also RHAPSODY and SNAV ADRIATICO from GNV’s fleet are en route to Palermo and will be deployed as accomodation vessels for migrants/
With GNV AZZURA and AURELIA, selected earlier by the Italian government and still employed, that makes 5 GNV ships on charter to the Government.
Since the summer season in Sardinia is ending earlier than expected (covid-19 infections were on the rise in august among tourists), many ferries are available.
