This time, it’s sure. A week after Var-matin revealed the informationthe shipowner finally makes it official: yes, the Méridionale shipping company is doing well “open a new line between Toulon and L’Île-Rousse (port located in the north of Corsica, editor’s note) from April 6″. This service will be operated by the Darlingsferry with a “capacity of 670 passengers and more than 2000 linear meters of rolling freight transport”.
If it is not a surprise, this news nevertheless caused a certain stir on Thursday, within the council of the Toulon Provence Méditerranée metropolis. “No negotiations took place”had assured the president of TPM Jean-Pierre Giran, evoking the need to oppose a “denial”. A meeting has been set between the metropolis and the shipowner in mid-January, however, the intermunicipality clarified this Friday.
A fourth rotation in the summer and crossings to Italy
Owned by CMA-CGM since last June, the Méridionale will thus offer new competition to Corsica Ferries at the foot of Faron. Until then, the company at the head of Maure made around 1,150 calls at Toulon, the leading French port for serving Corsica. A total to which it will therefore be necessary to immediately add nearly 130 stopovers… at least.
“In high season, the service to L’Île-Rousse will be reinforced by a fourth rotation to Toulon, to which rotations to Italy will be added in order to satisfy strong passenger demand”, specifies La Méridionale. For the record, former mayor Hubert Falco assured residents that he did not want to go “beyond 1.5 million passengers transported” between Corsica and Toulon.
The Kalliste equipped with an “electrical socket”
For environmentalists and some residents of the Mourillon district, this increase in rotations to the Isle of Beauty is not welcomed with enthusiasm. It means the increase in air pollution generated by boats. Note, however, that the Darlings is equipped to connect electrically to docks; a device allowing boats to turn off their engines during long stopovers which will be implemented in the coming weeks in Toulon.
Other good news, for future travelers this time: “In order to welcome its new customers in the best conditions of comfort, this ship will make a technical stop in Marseille in the spring, during which the passenger facilities will be modernized and upgraded. “improvements”, details La Méridionale.