The vessels, the m/v GAIA, m/V RAVENNA and m/V DANIELA are all operated by MSC. The unique port in the Mediterranean is able to offer this type of MEGA operation. Its infrastructure and super post panama equipment make the trans-shipment operations extremely reliable ensuring a competitive ship network for global connections say the port.
The three ULCCs deployed the following draught figures:
MSC Ravenna 12.90 m arrival draught and 14.90 m departure draught
MSC Daniela 15.45 m arrival draught and 14.30 m departure draught
MSC Gaia 13.55 m arrival draught and 13.65 m departure draught
M/v MSC GAIA made a spot call for the LION service. M/v MSC Ravenna is regularly deployed in the SILK service and M/v MSC DANIELA is used in the DRAGON SERVICE. A fourth ULCC, the M/v ROSA M, may was also sceduled to be berthed, but did not materialise due to changing operational priorities.
Domenico Bagalà, MCT Managing Director, commenting on the operations said ” …. in Gioia Tauro these challenges are now rather regular, it is somewhat unfortunate that the fourth ULCC did not quite work out at the time, further re-enforcing the availability of the infrastructure to manage large scale trans-shipment activities. We believe we have the proper skills and know-how for many years. This is well known by our clients and with the Gioia Tauro and Calabrian authorities strongly promoting the Economic Special Zone development and the Gioia Tauro role as a gateway for goods destined/originated to/ from South Italian regions, we are ready for increasing challenges. From here in the deep south, we can but raise our voice delivering not only records like this weekend, but underlining that Gioia Tauro port is an excellent world class facility for our country and that transhipment in particular is an added value service generating GDP and enabling our economy to remain linked to the dynamics of growth of all the countries outside Europe.”