For over 60 years, a key player in Mediterranean maritime transport.
We are a Group with a long-established presence in the fields of maritime navigation, shipbuilding, logistics, and port services. Our mission is to connect people and places, providing safe, reliable, and environmentally sustainable transportation.
Caronte & Tourist Group
Per mare, verso ciò che conta
Per mare, verso ciò che conta
The foundation of the Caronte & Tourist company
The parent company, Caronte & Tourist, was founded in 2003 following the merger of Caronte S.p.A. and Tourist Ferry Boat S.p.A.—two companies that, in the 1960s, pioneered private ferry services across the Strait of Messina, bringing Sicily closer to the mainland through frequent and regular crossings.
The other companies of the Group
Today, in addition to our continuous ferry service across the Strait—serving both passengers and freight—we operate a daily cabotage route between Messina and Salerno with the Cartour fleet. We also connect Sicily to its smaller islands through Caronte & Tourist Isole Minori, and we sail daily in Sardinia between La Maddalena and Palau with Maddalena Lines.
Sixty years of experience at sea
Over the past six decades, we have pursued steady growth while remaining rooted in the values of our founding family businesses. At the same time, we have embraced managerial professionalism, sustainability, and innovation.
We have remained ferrymen at heart, navigating the sea each day toward what matters most to our customers.
The entry of UK-based investment fund Basalt Infrastructure
In January 2019, the Group took a major step forward with the entry of UK-based investment fund Basalt Infrastructure Partners into our shareholding structure. This strategic move opened the door to external capital and reinforced our position in the market.
The ships, the people, the services
Today, with a fleet of 29 vessels and a workforce of 1,200 employees, we transport each year approximately 7 million passengers, 700,000 commercial vehicles, and 2 million cars.
Looking ahead, we are committed to building a green fleet and adopting increasingly eco-friendly fuels. This journey began with the launch of the Elio in 2018—the first LNG-powered bifuel passenger ferry to sail the Mediterranean—and continues with the addition of two cutting-edge bifuel and hybrid ships: Nerea (2023) and Pietro Mondello (2024).
