Many are those speculating that a new Sicily-Malta ferry route might soon become a reality, after a ‘Ragusa Xpress’ ferry was spotted docked at a Maltese shipyard.

This comes just days after it was revealed that PG Group founder Paul Gauci is currently in the process of acquiring a marina in Ragusa.

Should this route become a reality, Malta would be welcoming a third competitor in the Sicily-Malta catamaran industry.

Virtu Ferries – the only Sicily-Malta catamaran operator currently running – travels from Valletta to Pozzallo. The recently established Ponte Ferries, which has temporarily stopped its operations for winter, used to dock in Augusta, a stone’s throw away from Catania.

Times of Malta revealed that the ‘Ragusa Xpress’ vessel was previously owned by Virtu Ferries, although it is believed that it has been recently purchased by Paul Gauci.

Gauci’s plans for acquiring a Ragusa marina go beyond introducing a new Sicily-Malta catamaran link.

Reports have said that the PG Group founder is also planning ‘to develop retail and residential units around the marina’ as well as ‘refurbish the existing ship repair facilities’.

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