Minoan Plans To Expand Routes

Greek ferry operator Minoan Lines will expand into new sea routes linking the ports of West Italy with Malta and Tunisia and later expanding to French ports in the Mediterranean. The company's statement on its plans was issued after Minoan's chairman Costas Kleronomos announced the decision during the delivery ceremony of the operator's newest vessel, Festos Palace, over the weekend at Fincantieri shipyards in Genoa, Italy. Minoan's expansion plans will take place through a strategic cooperation with Italy's Grimaldi group. "This step is providing new opportunities for Minoan's strategy to expand its core ferry operations in the new European sea routes outside the Adriatic Sea market, where the company has been operating successfully for the past 20 years," Minoan Lines said in a statement. Its newbuilding Festos Palace can carry 2,200 passengers, 150 trucks and 100 cars at a cruise speed of 31.6 knots. - (Reuters)