BRIDGE

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Three ferries seized for corruption allegations

In the morning of June 6, 2023, the ferries 'Ulisse' ((IMO: 7817828), 'Bridge' and the 'Helga' (IMO: 7320693), all owned by the ferry operator Caronte & Tourist, were seized and their assets confiscated by the Italian police due to corruption allegations. The company's management was accused of corruption. The 'Ulisse' was located in Messina, the 'Bridge' in Milazzo and the 'Helga' in Palermo. The vessels will have to remain at the docks during the investigation. The court also froze almost 30 million Euros in the company's bank accounts.

Ferry on fire off Filicudi

On July 11, 2017, around 4 p.m. a fire broke out in the engine room of the "Bridge" serving the Filicudi - Salina route. The ferry had sailed from the Lipari to Milazzo and was four miles off Filicudi. The Coast Guard deployed an AB 412 helicopter and the patrol boats "Cf 818" and "Cp 2203" which transhipped a firefighter team from Lipari. Tand tugs attended the ferry which had 10 crew members and three cars with five passengers on board. There was mentioning of hazmat substances too. Also the "Ulysses" diverted from the Milazzo-Aeolie route to join the rescue operation, as well as the "Isola di Stromboli", also of the C & T C&T Isole Minori fleet. The passengers were taken aboard the "Raff14" of the port captain of Milazzo. The fire was brought under control with the onboard CO2 system, and the "Ulisse" took the disabled ship in tow to Messina. Cooling operations were going on from outside, while the ferry was under tow. Once the ship was in port, staff of NBCR (Nuclear, Biological, Chemistry, Radiological) checked the engine room with a thermal camera for remaining hotspots. The "Isola di Stromboli" sailed from Lipari at 7 p.m. for transfer of vehicles and passengers. The "Bridge" was later to be towed to Milazzo. Italian reports with photos: http://www.vigilfuoco.it/aspx/notizia.aspx?codnews=42483 http://www.oggimilazzo.it/2017/07/11/principio-di-incendio-sulla-nave-ngi-nel-tratto-filucidi-salina/ http://www.giornaledilipari.it/principio-dincendio-sul-bridge-nave-ferma-tra-filicudi-e-salina-passeggeri-evacuati/