Italy's Sicily Regional Government has opened a market consultation ahead of a possible unified tender for maritime services linking Sicily with the Aeolian Islands, the Egadi Islands, Ustica, Pantelleria and the Pelagie Islands.
Operators have until 12:00 local time on November 9 to state whether, and on what terms, they will operate all or part of the proposed services without public compensation.
The scope covers Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax ferries carrying passengers, vehicles and goods, including dangerous goods, as well as passenger-only fast craft.
The regional government said the responses will help determine which arrangement is needed. The options are commercial operation, public service obligations, demand-side subsidies, and compensated contracts awarded by tender.
Operators are asked about available vessels, replacement tonnage, mobilisation times, technical characteristics and compatibility with island port facilities.
The plan will consolidate a convention between the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) and Società Navigazione Siciliana (SNS) with separate regional contracts. SNS is a joint venture between Liberty Lines and Caronte and Tourist.
The legal and economic framework for bringing state routes under regional control remains unresolved.
Casa Riformista transport official Pino Prestigiacomo told MessinaToday that the region is, "conducting an expression of interest on state routes that are not theirs, because the agreement between the state and the region has not been signed."
In August, the regional government authorised further work on a new convention with MIT and SNS. The convention will transfer ministry-run services to the region from October 10, 2027, except Ustica and the Eolie–Napoli route.
Infrastructure and mobility assessor Alessandro Aricò said the region hoped, "that management of regional maritime services can soon be transferred entirely to the region."
The five island systems handled 3,789,682 passengers in 2025, 13.4 per cent more than in 2022. Fast craft carried 2,864,433 of these passengers and Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax services carried 925,249.
The MIT–SNS convention will expire on April 11, 2028. Liberty Lines' regional fast craft contracts will run until December 31, 2027, while Caronte and Tourist Isole Minori's Pelagie Ro-Ro contract will run until October 1, 2028.
