CC CASE STUDY
From a single, passenger only vessel to over 300,000 passengers and 60,000 vehicles yearly Virtu Ferries Managing Director Henri Saliba speaks to Sarah Micallef about Malta’s growing link with Sicily, the company’s journey since its origins in 1988 and what lies ahead.
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hether it’s for work or play, few Maltese can say they haven’t been to Sicily at least once, and for many, the instant association is Virtu Ferries – the operators of frequent and efficient car and passenger ferries specialising in the MaltaSicily route. The company finds its origins in 1988, and back then, as Managing Director Henri Saliba tells me, the ships in operation were far smaller than those on the route today. In 1993, Virtu Ferries made the switch from passenger-only to passengers and vehicles with their first vehicle-carrying vessel – the MV San Gwann – which had a capacity of 21 light cars and small vans. Some years later, in 2006, the company welcomed a larger vessel – the MV Maria Dolores, a 68m ferry. “It was then that we made a change from light cars to commercial trucks. With a capacity of 65 vehicles, out of which we could fit up to three trailers or trucks, the Maria Dolores operated till 2011, at which point we introduced the MV Jean De La Valette,” he explains. The new vessel took the company’s commercial and cargo
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offering to a new level, taking a maximum of 16 to 17 trailers, small vans, trucks and cars. The company’s focus throughout the years however, has always been split – giving equal importance to the passenger and cargo sectors. “We keep our focus on our clients and ensure we offer value for money together with a high level of service.” Mr Saliba continues. And this focus lies in more than simple operation as a sea carrier. The Managing Director explains that Virtu also works to create business for each route, focusing on their different markets and customers. Their tour operating arm in Sicily, Vacanze Maltesi, is Sicily’s largest tour operator that specialises in Malta, and offers different packages to tourists interested in visiting. During 2016 Virtu Ferries carried about 55,000 tourists from Sicily to Malta including day trippers, he explains: we offer tourists residing in hotels in Sicily a day trip to Malta including an excursion, very much like tourists who come to Malta for a day on cruise liners.” Meanwhile, there are also passengers that
Photo by Inigo Taylor
“We keep our focus on our clients and ensure we offer value for money together with a high level of service.” APRIL / MAY 2017