Ponte Ferries’ fast ferry catamaran service to Sicily commences on the 6th of August, and tickets go on sale today, with one-way trips starting from €9.99.

Ponte Ferries’ high-speed craft, HSC Artemis, will operate daily return trips to the port of Augusta – located less than 30 minutes away from Catania.

The company said that the vessel was operating in the Canary Islands and has recently been overhauled and refitted by Fred Olsen, a leading ferry operator in Spain that specializes in inter-island routes aboard high-speed vessels.

Ponte Ferries is a joint venture between Magro Brothers Investments Ltd and Merill Invest Ltd.

Magro Brothers of Gozo, said that it had been previously involved in the the maritime industry for over 40 years, and has re-entered the market through this investment, while the Zammit Tabona brothers have for more than four decades’ experience; having been active in this field through their holdings in Captain Morgan Cruises; iSeeMalta’s hop-on, hop-off concept; and the ferry transport service connecting Sliema, Valletta and The Three Cities.

The company explained that the 96m-long catamaran – which comfortably accommodates 600 passengers and features a deck for both cars and cargo trucks – is equipped with many facilities including USB charging connections on every seat, a specially designated area for pet owners, and a family-friendly area where children can be kept entertained in a supervised environment. The vessel also has a state-of-the-art club class lounge, among several innovative features.

A Ponte Ferries spokesman said, “we are delighted to bring much-needed competition to this market in time for the peak holiday season. Our vessel offers great value and has the added advantage of berthing in Augusta, which is just a short drive away from Catania, Syracuse, the shopping outlets and Taormina.”

They added that, “as an introductory offer, we will shortly issue discount vouchers to households in Malta and Gozo so everybody will have the opportunity to try out our great service.”

Ponte has also teamed up with ROCS Travel Group through a dedicated GSA agreement to provide customers with exceptional package holidays to Sicily at affordable rates.

Ponte Holidays packages will be exclusively available from Ponte Holidays retail outlets and on the online platform www.ponteholidays.com both for the end customer, as well as local travel agents as from the 19th of July

Bookings may be made via www.ponteferries.com

Permalink: Ponte Ferry Sicily service from 6th August, tickets on sale today from €9.99