Tirrenia (company)

Tirrenia Società Anonima di Navigazione was founded in 1936, resulting from the nationalization of many private-owned Italian lines. The company gathered a fleet of 55 ships. When World War II broke out, the number of lines were reduced. By 1942, 50 ships were sunk following the armed conflicts in the Mediterranean sea.[1]

After World War II, the few ships surviving the conflict were used to connect Italian islands, mainly Sardinia, to the mainland. The company became public and its name was changed to Tirrenia di Navigazione S.p.A. In 1965, the company launched the production of fully-fledged ferries, the Poet Class.[1] In the 1970s, ships were gradually replaced by ferries and the company developed its freight activities. In 1975, Tirrenia bought the Malta Express ferry.[1] Since the end of the 1980s, the company has been upgrading its older units with faster ones capable of reaching 35–40 knots.

However, most of these were unpractical or too expensive to operate and are now scrapped. The Italian Government, after having subsidiarized the company some years,[2] privatised Tirrenia in 2012.

On 23 December 2009, Tirrenia was put on the market. Sixteen companies join the bidding, including SNAV, Grandi Navi Veloci, Grimaldi Lines, Moby Lines, Ustica Lines, Corsica Ferries and Mediterranea Holding (including Regione Siciliana and Alexis Tomasos). The latter ends up alone when al the other bidders quit. On 28 July 2010, Mediterranea Holding won the bidding for Tirrenia and Siremar. On 4 August, Fintecna announces that the sale will not happen, since Mediterranea Holding did not show up for signing. On 12 August, the company officially entered receivership,[3] as requested by commissioner Giancarlo D'Andrea.

An agreement has been made for Tirrenia to be taken over by Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione (Cin) in 2012. However, in May the competition authority opened an investigation into whether a dominant position in routes to Sardinia would be created.[4]

In 2014, the company moved from its historic headquarters of Rione Sirignano to Calata Porta di Massa, Interno Porto.[1] In 2015, Tirrenia was entirely acquired by Vincenzo Onorato and became part of the Onorato Armatori group. Pietro Manunta was named president and Massimo Mura Managing Director.[5] Vincenzo Onorato also owns the other ferry company of Naples, Moby.[6] In 2019, Tirrenia raised its prices, leading to reactions from the weakened local competition.[7]

Tirrenia Group included until 2010 the following company:

• Siremar (Sicilia Regionale Marittima). Connects Sicily with the Aeolian Islands, Aegadian Islands, Ustica, Lampedusa and Pantelleria.

Ship name	Flag	Built	Route	Tonnage	Length	Width	Passengers	Vessels	Lanemeters	Speed Knots
Nuraghes		2004	Civitavecchia ↔ Olbia Genoa ↔ Porto Torres	39.780 GT	214,6 m	26,4 m	3.000	1.085	1.900	29
Sharden		2005	Civitavecchia ↔ Olbia Genoa ↔ Porto Torres	39.780 GT	214,6 m	26,4 m	3.000	1.085	1.900	29
Bithia		2001	Genoa ↔ Olbia / Porto Torres Civitavecchia ↔ Cagliari / Olbia	36.475 GT	214,6 m	26,4 m	2.700	900	915	29
Janas		2002	Genoa ↔ Olbia / Porto Torres Civitavecchia ↔ Cagliari / Olbia	36.475 GT	214,6 m	26,4 m	2.700	900	915	29
Athara		2003	Genoa ↔ Olbia / Porto Torres Civitavecchia ↔ Cagliari / Olbia	36.475 GT	214,6 m	26,4 m	2.700	900	915	29
Vincenzo Florio		1999	Naples ↔ Palermo	30.650 GT	180,3 m	26,8 m	1.470	625	2.000	23
Raffaele Rubattino		2000	Naples ↔ Palermo	30.650 GT	180,3 m	26,8 m	1.470	625	2.000	23
Beniamino Carnevale		1992	Livorno ↔ Cagliari Ravenna ↔ Catania	14.398 GT	150,4 m	23,4 m	50	300	1.750	19
Isola di Capraia		1999	Termoli ↔ Tremiti	1.927 GT	70,9 m	12,4 m	550	57	-	28

• 
  Ro-Ro Beniamino Carnevale.
• 
  M/S Athara to Genoa.
• 
  M/S Sharden in Olbia.
• 
  M/S Raffaele rubattino.
• 
  M/S Bithia to Genoa.

• Vincenzo Onorato

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tirrenia di Navigazione.

• Official Website