A ferry boat branded Ragusa Xpress has been seen in a Maltese shipyard amid reports the supermarket tycoon Paul Gauci’s marina takeover plans include a new Sicily-to-Malta route. Last week, news emerged that Gauci, founder of PG Group, which runs the PAMA and PAVI supermarkets, was leading a group of investors in finalising a deal to acquire the Porto Turistico Marina di Ragusa. Among plans to develop more commercial and residential real estate around the marina, this would also include a new catamaran link between Sicily and Malta. A new route to the port of Ragusa would mean a new operator entering the market for ferry crossings to Sicily, with competitors Virtu Ferries making port at the municipality’s principal port in Pozzallo, only a 40-minute drive from the Ragusa marina. The Ponte ferry service, which announced a pause in its operations to Sicily for the winter, previously docked in Augusta and was considered favourable due to its proximity to the city of Catania. The Ragusa Xpress was first spotted in Malta yesterday, moored in a Marsa shipyard, having been painted white and branded with the yellow logo. Times of Malta is informed that the vessel, now named San Giorgio,...
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