Ponte Ferries ‘has no final approved permit to operate’ to Sicily’s Augusta

Ponte Ferries is still in discussions with the competent authorities in Augusta over a ferry service to the Sicilian port and no final approved permit to operate has been issued, the company said yesterday.
However, documents seen by Times of Malta have shown that a temporary permit was issued by the Augusta port authorities on August 11, which allowed Ponte Ferries to operate.
In spite of this, the operator continued with its cancellation of trips and provided clients with alternatives such as airline flights, refunds and vouchers.
Asked about the temporary permit, a company spokesperson said this related “to a possible operational solution discussed in the course of formal ongoing discussions, which, at the time, were not workable from a technical perspective”.

Ponte Ferries said it will immediately inform its clients once a formal go-ahead to operate is secured.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the company said that it was “both willing and able” to start its ferry service to Sicily as planned on August 6 but insisted it was prevented from doing so due to last-minute contestations by a competing operator on the use of berthing quays in Augusta.
Ponte Ferries said it was in...