With a length of approximately 140 meters and a gross tonnage of approximately 14,500 tonnes, the ship will be able to transport up to 1,000 passengers and 200 automobiles
Palermo – The new Ro-Pax ferry that Fincantieri is building for the Sicilian Region was launched today at the Palermo shipyard. Delivery is scheduled for the summer of 2026.
Attending the launching ceremony, an occasion that marks the transition to the final outfitting phase, were Renato Schifani, President of the Sicilian Region, and Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Fincantieri. The new ferry was blessed by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Palermo, Corrado Lorefice. The godmother of the launch was Vinzia Novara Di Gaetano.
The new ferry, which has been given the name ‘Costanza I di Sicilia’, built entirely at the Palermo shipyard, stands out for its advanced technological features, especially in terms of environmental sustainability. With a length of approximately 140 meters and a gross tonnage of approximately 14,500 tonnes, the ship will be able to transport up to 1,000 passengers and 200 automobiles, reaching a maximum speed of 19 knots. Propulsion will be ensured by dual fuel engines, powered by marine gasoil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), the most ecological marine fuel currently available on a large scale, and which represents a fundamental step in the maritime industry’s decarbonization path, significantly reducing greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions. The unit will also be equipped with a photovoltaic system that, in combination with a battery pack, will allow for zero-emission stays in port for approximately four hours.
With this project, born with the aim of enhancing connections with the islands of Lampedusa, Linosa and Pantelleria, the Sicilian Region will be the first in Italy to be the sole owner of a unit of this type. The signing of the contract between the Sicilian Region and Fincantieri, which took place in 2023, also includes an option for a second ferry.
The Palermo shipyard plays a strategic role within Fincantieri’s production network. With over 500 direct employees and a supply chain that employs more than 2,500 people in the region, it contributes to the construction of ship parts for the cruise ship sector and plays a primary role in the modernization of cruise ships, responding to the growing demand for fleet upgrades and transformations. Thanks to its highly skilled workforce in the field of shipbuilding, conversion and repair, the shipyard combines tradition and innovation, representing an industrial hub of reference for the renewal of medium-small sized ferries, in line with the most advanced environmental and efficiency standards.
“The launch of the “Costanza I di Sicilia”, the first ferry of the regional fleet, – said Schifani – represents a moment of extraordinary importance for the Region. With this ship, which will permanently connect Pantelleria and Lampedusa with Porto Empedocle, Sicily reaffirms its centrality in the Mediterranean and its ability to look to the future with vision, competence and responsibility.
The “Costanza I di Sicilia” is not just a maritime infrastructure, but the symbol of a political and human project based on territorial equity, the dignity of mobility, and environmental sustainability.
Folgiero added: “Today, thanks to the Sicilian Region, we are celebrating an extraordinary result, made possible also by the commitment of our workers who were able to take up the challenge of bringing the construction of an entire ship back to Palermo. Today’s launch is a starting point for relaunching the shipyard within the new industrial plan of Fincantieri, which we will present by the end of the year. The construction of this ship is not only a return to production, but an investment in the future, in skills, and in Italian manufacturing, in a sector where people represent the most valuable resource. Palermo has a unique vocation in the Mediterranean and will become increasingly central in our group’s strategy.”
