Athena - Bluferries' new green ship - becomes operational

A new green ship for connections in the Messina Strait. Athena has become operational as of today - the latest addition to the Bluferries fleet, a company part of FS Logistix, i.e. the FS Group company (led by CEO Stefano Antonio Donnarumma) active in maritime transport between Sicily and Calabria.

“The arrival of Athena at Bluferries is a further step in FS Logistix's fleet modernisation plan, in line with our ambitious Strategic Plan to become more of a key player in the evolution of the business and in the future of freight transport and logistics,” reported Sabrina De Filippis, CEO of FS Logistix. “We are investing significant resources to ensure an offer that is more attentive to current market needs and, above all, one that is green. It is a concrete achievement in terms of innovation, sustainability and efficiency at the service of industry and the territory, proving to be an increasingly marked development in connections with intermodal shipping.”

“Today is an important day for the Bluferries family,” added Bluferries CEO Giuseppe Sciumè. “The launching into service of Athena represents a decisive step in the renewal of our assets, in order to ensure increasingly efficient connections even in view of a busy period like August. The new ship also allows us to introduce an even greener and more modern fleet, proof of our commitment to environmental protection.”

With a name that evokes the Greek goddess of wisdom, the arts, strategic warfare, and the patroness of Athens, the new ship - which arrived in the port of Messina in April - is now operational, offering even more services for the transport of passengers and goods between Messina and Villa San Giovanni this summer 2025. The Bluferries connections between Villa San Giovanni and Porto Storico have already been active since 4 July, alongside the traditional runs to the port of Tremestieri in the south of Messina.

Athena boasts hybrid propulsion for a 56% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to the oldest ships in the fleet, and 13% compared to its non-hybrid sister ships Trinacria and Sikania, thanks to a 'zero emission' technology during port approach, and loading and unloading operations using only electric motors with batteries that charge while sailing. Equipped with solar panels that provide 25kW of energy to power the ship's accommodation services, Athena features further qualitative environmental parameters: the main engines, for example, are able to run on a blend of diesel with up to 20% biodiesel, and there is a fresh water system on board that reduces water consumption by more than 70%.

The new ship is the result of a €26 million investment, partly financed with funds from the National Plan for Investments Complementary to the NRRP.

 

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

At 105 metres long and 18 metres wide, the Athena features one deck for vehicle transit and one for passengers. It can transport up to 22 trucks or 125 cars and 393 people including passengers and crew members, and also provides transport service for passengers with reduced mobility, thereby ensuring top quality standards with less vibration and more comfort.

 

THE BLUFERRIES FLEET

Athena joins the bidirectional vessels Enotria, Fata Morgana, Trinacria and Sikania, designed to carry heavy and light wheeled cargo, and also to transport railway wagons (with the Fata Morgana).

Consistent with its mission of complying with environmental sustainability protocols, and in line with FS Group's objectives, the company has launched a fleet modernisation plan to replace its two oldest ships (one of which, the Riace, has already been decommissioned) with new hybrid-powered ships (diesel-electric), for ever greater energy efficiency and lower environmental impact.

 

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/wkiWUTIHjv4