Grimaldi Group Naples and Malta Motorways of the Sea have introduced passenger/car ferry services to Genoa, Civitaveccha and Catania, saying that the regular sailings to Northern Italy were the first in recent years.

The announcement was made on the ferry Catania in Grand Harbour.

Grimaldi officials said the passenger service to Genoa will leave Genoa on Saturdays and Malta on Thursdays with a total transit time of 36 hours. The described the services as new low cost alternatives for travellers, but were not in a position to give prices.

The Civitavecchia service will depart the Italian city on Tuesdays and leave Malta on Mondays. Total sailing time is 26 hours.

Modern Visentini type passenger/roro vessels will be deployed, with a capacity of 834 passengers and 93 cabins, along with 170 cars and 172 commercial trucks and trailers.

Freight services to the two ports will be twice a week.

The Malta/Catania service will incorporate two new weekly passenger services and four weekly freight services. The passenger service leaves Catania on Sundays and Wednesdays, and leaves Malta on Mondays and Thursdays. Sailing time is six hours.

Mark Portelli, chairman of the Malta Maritime Authority, welcomed the new services and said that freight transport had increased by 30 percent in Grand Harbour last year over 2007, and by 20 percent from Malta Freeport. These new services, he said, would provide increased capacity and new opportunities for importers and exporters, as well as new opportunities for travellers.