FERRYING IN '15, 24th June, Messina

24th June 2015 continued

In Milazzo after lunch the Giuntabus took us to Messina in fifty minutes, and then we could walk to the railway station to check train times for one of my friends to make his way home to the UK. Our overnight hotel was closed so rucksacks had still to be carried but there was time for my friends to discuss onward sailings before we parted company. It had been good fun to travel together.

Goodbye SNAV Aquarius


Two of us therefore made our way to the railway station to buy tickets and find our way to the platform for the train ferry sailing across the Straits. The whole night train was going to Milan, made up of half a train from Palermo and half a train from Siracuse; once combined they would make up a complete train which had to be loaded onto the train ferry across the Straits of Messina, in sections to fit, before combining again on the mainland side to make its way all the way up to Milan in northern Italy overnight. We would not be doing this of course, but simply crossing the Straits.

We boarded the train and watched in fascination as we heard, felt and saw the train approaching the train ferry. We were to sail on the MESSINA, from Messina, across the Straits of Messina - which I thought was a very satisfactory thing to do!

Through the train window

Getting off the train on board

Down on the deck

The train deck


I gather that due to limited space, the linkspan has various tracks for different lines on to the ferry and dock lines. These can then be raised or lowered according to the tides; as the line is not electrified onto the linkspan, the diesel shunter is used for the first few metres between the limit of electrification and the ferry, and then it leaves.

Our section of carriages was the first part to be separated from the complete train, and we were shunted onto one side section of the train ferry. We were in part-daylight so we could look through the grubby glass window and see one of the marshals on the deck nearby. Once we were secured and the shunting engine went back for another section of train, we could get off the carriage and climb the nearby stairs up to the train ferry deck.

On deck

At the port

Lounge seating

Another view

2013 plate

Bow door open and up

Looking back to the Maritime terminal

Deck Plan

Looking down from the 'bridge'

Looking towards the stern ramp

The 'bridge' over the train carriages

"Villa" lifeboats on the quayside


MESSINA was built in 2013, at 5,700 gross tons as a ro-ro train ferry, to sail for RFI between the port of Messina on Sicily and Villa San Giovanni on the Italian mainland. In February 2015 it was announced that part of the train ferry service was to close, with only the one night sleeper remaining, so we felt so glad to see this new ferry. We had enjoyed sailing on the train ferry ROSALIA across the Straits in July 2008 and had happy memories of those trips. This new ferry was very light and bright on board, with spacious bar and seating areas; out on deck we liked the little 'bridge' effect over the railway carriages below on the train deck, so that we could stand and look down and see what was happening. Soon the shunting and loading was complete, the ramp came up and we were off.

There were several other ferries around us as we sailed on this new vessel, and like us they were heading across the Straits of Messina to or from the mainland.

Tremestieri far away

Tindari Jet


Soon we had arrived at Villa San Giovanni and the whole process of getting the train carriages off the ferry began. We returned to one of the carriages and watched the marshals outside on this lower deck. The shunter arrived to take our carriage off the ferry, and then we were amazed to see a railway man standing down below our forward-facing window waiting to couple the carriage and the shunter together. He had to stand below the joint and wait to do his work, all the while avoiding the huge moving parts coming towards him. This looks a dangerous job and I can only hope he is well rewarded!

Down on the train deck

Waiting for the linkspan to align

Nearly there

and again

Train leaving

Our turn to be attached


Soon the whole train was complete again and could be taken to the station. We finally disembarked onto a platform, and watched as preparations were made for the train journey north to Milan overnight. Coo, this reminded me of a journey in reverse last year (Ferrying in '14, see blog) when we left Milan to come south on the overnight sleeper train along the Italian east coast to Ostuni.

We finally left the station and made our way out to the Bluferries fast craft TINDARI JET for the journey back to Messina.

Tindari Jet of Bluferries


That took just 20 minutes and soon we could disembark and watch MESSINA leave the harbour for another trip from Messina across the Straits of Messina - just as we had done, but on a train.

Nice view back at Messina

Messina the ship


We walked to the Hotel Garibaldi and checked in, with a warm welcome. An evening meal at a nearby local restaurant was next, and I enjoyed a wonderful salmon ravioli dish. It had been a fascinating day again.

Ships seen: Laurana, Sea Dream II, Star Breeze, Mirella Morace, Eschilo, Ariston (coaster of Marmaris), Antioco,

and then this afernoon: Wilhelmshaven (Stena ro-ro), Tremestieri, Riace, Messina, SNAV Aquarius, Villa, Logudoro, Vestfold, Tindari Jet, Enotria, Fata Morgana, Isola di Stromboli, Pace (on drydock),


To be continued...

FERRYING IN '15, 24th June, Laurana

Wednesday 24th June 2015
On board LAURANA my alarm clock woke me from a deep sleep as planned, ready for our call at Stromboli. It was barely light outside, and the lack of hot or even warm water in the bathroom was an unwelcome shock. It's at times like this that some of us remember the old childhood idea of 'a lick and a promise', so a thin towel and cold water had to suffice. The cabin had been very cold in the night, with the air-conditioning roaring noisily through the ventilator, so I had been extremely glad of the thick Adriatica red blanket on my bed, but I now realised that it was probably designed to dull the smell of diesel in the cabins and corridor. I was glad to get out on deck and see where we were.

It was interesting and rather awe-inspiring to realise we were following a route of active Italian volcanoes, from Vesuvius looming over Naples, to the islands of Stromboli and Vulcano, and then further south to Mt. Etna on the island of Sicily. We could see wisps of lava cloud issuing from one of the craters on the top of Stromboli and suddenly all the imagined pictures became reality in front of us.

Italian volcanos (from Google)

Stromboli ahead

Smoke from the crater

Dog passenger

Meeting another one

Nearing the town

More daylight and more smoke

Approaching part of the town

Round a bit futher

Rock and lighthouse

MSC ship in the distance

Attilio Ievoli JR passing by

Possible landing area on the rock


Although it was almost 6 a.m. and barely light we still had a couple of miles to go before reaching the little town and jetty. I hadn't realised that the island was inhabited but in fact many people were getting ready to leave LAURANA and as we came closer and manoeuvred to get the stern ramp on the jetty, we could see low level buildings on the flatter land near the jetty and about twenty vehicles lined up ready to board the ship. The beaches were black of course with the lava deposits, but there was green vegetation just above them in this area.

Stromboli buildings

Along a bit further

And there was the jetty

Turning and lining up

Waiting for us

Ramp down


The ramp went down, about sixty people disembarked with their pull-along cases and occasional dog, and were soon to be seen making their way along the jetty and then the road. Some people were met by little open-top vehicles which soon disappeared with passengers and luggage.

And they were off...

Nearly all have left the ship

Local Police

Black beach

The dog has seen it all before

Nearly everyone has gone



The aged local black dog on the jetty barked his last message, the police watched the ramp go up, and within 15 minutes we were again on our way, sailing in the Tyrrhenian Sea towards Ginostra, Panarea and S.M. Salina.

Goodbye Stromboli

Lava flows

Full steam ahead for Ginostra and Panarea


I went back to bed and the Adriatica blankets and slept for another hour and missed the next ports of call, but back on deck the coffee and croissants in the bar were good and so was the subsequent restful time on deck enjoying the sea and sunshine. Even some time after leaving Stromboli we could see the little cloud of lava rising high into the sky from her summit.

Our funnel and Siremar logo

View on the top deck



Next we headed to Rinella to disembark and embark more passengers, again within about 15 minutes, and then we were off to Lipari.

Approaching Rinella

Rinella

A view to my right

A view to my left

and off again

Blue sea

Cultivation



Lipari is the largest and most populated of the Aeolian islands and seems to be a bigger and more popular destination, as the Pilot came on board and guided us past two cruise ships: STAR BREEZE and SEA DREAM II already in the bay.

Pilot coming to take us into Lipari

Sea Dream II at Lipari

Star Breeze at Lipari

Part of Lipari

At Lipari


Passengers surged off here and I think a few embarked, but LAURANA was beginning to feel fairly quiet and empty now, as we set off for Vulcano - late again. I had found a timetable by this time and it showed the sailings north and south to these volcanic islands during the months June to September.

Laurana as built

Built in 1992

Ship Schedule

Laurana as built

Eschilo arriving

Approaching Vulcano

Eschilo leaving

Antioco arriving


Vulcano is another seemingly popular volcanic island, judging by the little local Siremar fast ferries we saw in the harbour. Again, our passengers disembarked and we began to feel we were on a ghost ship for a moment, especially as the bar stopped serving coffee or cool drinks once we left at 11.45 a.m. We were over an hour late by this time, but it was lovely out on deck in the sunless heat as we sailed towards our final destination of Milazzo, on the north coast of the island of Sicily.

About 1.30 we arrived in Milazzo, about an hour and a half later than scheduled, but we were soon standing on the quayside beside LAURANA. She had been an interesting ship and we felt so glad we had travelled on her; her itinerary was unforgettable and it had been an amazing journey. I don't think I smelt the sulphur but I could certainly see the lava flows and some smoking craters as we wended our way to call at these volcanic islands, on a very interesting ship.

Laurana moved to another quay in Milazzo

Map of Sicily


We had time now to find a local restaurant before catching an hourly Giuntabus to take us along the autostrada to Messina, our port of embarkation for our next sailings across the Straits of Messina. We love the local delicacy of arancini - crispy deep-fried balls of cheese and rice - so these were the starter before Italian pizza and cool drinks. We could look out at the water and notice that LAURANA had moved berths, which gave us another chance for photos after lunch.

Looking good - goodbye Laurana


Ships seen: Laurana, Attilio Ievoli JR, Sea Dream II, Star Breeze, Mirella Morace, Eschilo, Ariston (coaster of Marmaris), Antioco



To be continued...