Liguria’s Reefer Terminal announced on 23 October the start of a dedicated ro-ro route to Misurata, Libya, operated by Blue Lines. The first vessel, the 147-metre *Lider Trabzon*, will call at the port at the end of the month, followed by two sister ships on a 20-day rotation.
The service diversifies the terminal’s historic fruit-handling business into roll-on/roll-off cargo, enabling Italian exporters to move vehicles, machinery and project cargo directly to Libya without trans-shipment in Malta or Tunisia. Terminal operator Vado Gateway has set aside a 200-metre berth and an 800-vehicle yard for the new trade lane. CEO Santi Casciano said the line demonstrates Reefer Terminal’s “flexibility in handling multiple commodity types.”
For global mobility teams the route provides an over-water alternative to air freight for household goods and corporate equipment destined for Libya’s energy and construction projects—especially valuable given persistently high air-cargo rates. Road carriers can now deliver rolling stock directly to Vado for loading, cutting transit times by up to four days compared with routes via Gioia Tauro.
The line also symbolises Italy’s broader push to carve out a logistics role in North-Africa reconstruction. With EU funds earmarked for the Mediterranean Corridor and customs facilitation under discussion, Vado could evolve into a hub for combined ro-ro / reefer flows serving both Maghreb markets and Central Europe.
Companies should watch pricing; Blue Lines is offering introductory “launch fares” until year-end but plans to adjust tariffs in line with bunker surcharges from January 2026.
The service diversifies the terminal’s historic fruit-handling business into roll-on/roll-off cargo, enabling Italian exporters to move vehicles, machinery and project cargo directly to Libya without trans-shipment in Malta or Tunisia. Terminal operator Vado Gateway has set aside a 200-metre berth and an 800-vehicle yard for the new trade lane. CEO Santi Casciano said the line demonstrates Reefer Terminal’s “flexibility in handling multiple commodity types.”
For global mobility teams the route provides an over-water alternative to air freight for household goods and corporate equipment destined for Libya’s energy and construction projects—especially valuable given persistently high air-cargo rates. Road carriers can now deliver rolling stock directly to Vado for loading, cutting transit times by up to four days compared with routes via Gioia Tauro.
The line also symbolises Italy’s broader push to carve out a logistics role in North-Africa reconstruction. With EU funds earmarked for the Mediterranean Corridor and customs facilitation under discussion, Vado could evolve into a hub for combined ro-ro / reefer flows serving both Maghreb markets and Central Europe.
Companies should watch pricing; Blue Lines is offering introductory “launch fares” until year-end but plans to adjust tariffs in line with bunker surcharges from January 2026.
Джерело: Shipping Italy
