Italy’s Moby and Ichnusa Lines will continue to operate the ferry route between Santa Teresa di Gallura in Sardinia and Bonifacio in Corsica for another 12 months, as no other company had responded to the Sardinian regional authority's call for expressions of interest.
The regional authority has renewed the two operators' authorisations for the period from November 1, 2026, to October 31, 2027, exercising the option for an additional year contained in the existing authorisations.
It has also approved winter compensation of €981,200 (US$1.102 billion) including value-added tax for 1,208 sailings between November 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027. The compensation is calculated at €738.41 (US$828.96) plus VAT per sailing.
Moby will operate 608 sailings and receive €493,849 (US$554,412). Ichnusa Lines will operate the remaining 600 and receive €487,351 (US$547,319).
The regional authority opened the market survey on April 22, 2026, seeking operators for passenger, vehicle and freight services under public service obligations (PSO). Responses were due by June 1.
The notice stated that, "if there are no applications from other interested economic operators, the administration will exercise the option to renew the current authorisations for a further year."
During the winter period, Moby will deploy the ferry Bunifazziu from November 1 to January 15. Ichnusa Lines will then take over with Ichnusa from January 16 to March 31. The plan provides for four daily departures in each direction throughout.
After March, both ferries will operate together. The summer schedule will provide six pairs of daily sailings across PSO and non-PSO services, with additional sailings on public holidays. The total will rise to seven pairs a day during the peak period from June 28 to September 13.
The renewal follows the region's first 12-month procedure for the route, launched in July 2025 after service interruptions in the winter of 2024.
That procedure covered November 2025 to October 2026 and aimed to secure a more stable year-round connection using two vessels.
The route was suspended from February 1, 2026, because of technical problems affecting the vessels.
The region cited maintenance schedules, safety certification, and clearances required from French authorities for operations in international waters on the route.