Paglia Orba (ship)
 Paglia Orba in Marseille | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Paglia Orba |
| Namesake | Paglia Orba, mountain peak in Corsica |
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry | (1994–present): Bastia, France |
| Route | |
| Ordered | 19 February 1992 |
| Builder |
|
| Yard number | 290 |
| Laid down | 6 July 1992 |
| Launched | 3 June 1993 |
| Christened | 12 April 1994 |
| Completed | 15 March 1994 |
| Acquired | 15 March 1994 (by SNCM) April 2016 (by Corsica Linea) |
| Maiden voyage | 23 March 1994 |
| In service | 1994 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Custom Ro-Pax Freight & Passenger Ferry |
| Tonnage |
|
| Displacement | 21,324 loaded |
| Length | 165.80 m (544 ft 0 in) |
| Beam | 29.02 m (95 ft 3 in) |
| Draught | 6.63 m (21 ft 9 in) |
| Decks | 9 |
| Ramps | Stern loading ramps |
| Installed power | 4 × Wärtsilä-Vasaa 16V32 marine diesel engines (total 19,700 kW / 26,418 hp) |
| Propulsion | 2 × controllable pitch propellers |
| Speed | 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph) (service) |
| Capacity |
|
| Crew | 40–50 |
Paglia Orba is a mixed ship belonging to the French company Corsica Linea. Built from 1992 to 1994 at the Le Havre Workshops and Shipyards for SNCM, it is named after a Corsican summit, the Paglia Orba. He has been affected since March 1994 for the transport of freight and passengers between Marseille and Corsica, initially under the colors of SNCM and then Corsica Linea from 2016. Initially used on the lines of the public service delegation (DSP), since the 2020s it has seen a more versatile use by being mainly positioned on complementary rotations to Corsica in the spring and summer.
History
Origins and construction
In the early 1990s, a study conducted by the Corsican Regional Transport Observatory concluded that the fleet of cargo ships transporting goods between the mainland and Corsica would no longer be able to maintain smooth traffic flow by 1993–1994. The Société Nationale Maritime Corse-Méditerranée (SNCM) and the Compagnie Méridionale de Navigation (CMN) were therefore asked to replace one of their vessels with a larger one in order to anticipate the increase in freight traffic. In accordance with the specific agreement signed with the State for the operation of maritime routes between the mainland and Corsica, renewed on August 8, 1991, and covering the period 1991–1995, SNCM is obligated to replace the Monte Rotondo with a new unit having a haulage capacity of 2,200 meters, the commissioning of which is planned for January 1994, shortly after that of a similar unit by CMN. This fleet program was therefore necessary, otherwise the two shipowners would find themselves unable to meet their obligations, which would lead to a reduction in subsidies. With a view to obtaining more advantageous prices, SNCM and CMN launched on September 9, 1991, a joint tender for the construction of two identical ships was issued, attracting four shipyards. South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries, Finland's Aker Finnyards, and Chantiers de l'Atlantique all proposed building both vessels simultaneously, while Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre offered to build only one, as its workload prevented it from competing with its rivals. Initially, Aker Finnyards' bid appeared the most attractive due to its lower cost. However, the French government intervened to support the struggling French shipbuilding industry. Within the limits set by the European Commission, additional subsidies were granted to ensure that SNCM's future vessel would be built at the ACH shipyard, as had been the case for most of its previous cargo ships. Once the final negotiations were completed, SNCM placed its order for its new mixed cargo ship on February 19, 1992, while CMN signs the order for its own in Finland. Just like its predecessors, the future mixed-use vessel is named after a Corsican peak. Thus it receives the name Paglia Orba, a mountain peak located in the Monte Cinto massif in Upper Corsica.[1]
Driven by the imperative need to meet Corsica's freight transport requirements, the design of the new vessel is primarily focused on its cargo capabilities. It will have a rolling capacity of 2,200 linear meters, enough to carry approximately 150 trailers. This carrying capacity is made possible mainly by the vessel's very large dimensions: 165 meters long and 30 meters wide, which also represents a significant upgrade compared to the Monte d'Oro. The car deck will be accessible from both the stern and the bow and will have eight bays, allowing for considerable time savings in handling. Technically, this vessel must be equipped with the latest navigation and safety technologies. The bridge is designed as a true control tower, even in its appearance, with fully enclosed maneuvering wings – a first for an SNCM vessel. Computer systems allow for remote management of everything, including the engine room. The navigation instruments are equipped with an automation system capable of not only guiding the ship along the indicated route, but also correcting its course or indicating predetermined passages. Finally, this new vessel is also distinguished, upon its launch, by its stabilizers, which are the largest ever fitted to a merchant ship.[1]
In addition to its role in transporting freight to Corsica, the new vessel must also be equipped to carry a number of passengers, in accordance with the wishes of the OTRC (Corsican Transport Office), which had guided the conversions of the cargo ships Monte Cinto and Monte Stello, as well as the design of the Monte d'Oro.[2] However, unlike the latter, which was designed to carry approximately 500 passengers, the new vessel will have a capacity closer to that required by the OTRC, namely 190 passengers. These passengers will have access to basic facilities such as a restaurant, a bar, and a snack bar, but with a level of comfort similar to that of the company's ferries. This is primarily reflected in the attention paid to decor, with marble and wood paneling, and cabins all equipped with private bathrooms.[1]
The Paglia Orba was laid down on July 6, 1992, and launched on June 3, 1993. Once the finishing work was completed, it carried out its sea trials on February 17, 1994. Due to a difficult social situation at ACH, the delivery of the ship to SNCM will be slightly delayed. On March 15, 1994, the construction sites were indeed facing numerous problems that would ultimately lead to its bankruptcy in November 1999, thus making the Paglia Orba the last SNCM cargo ship built by the Le Havre shipbuilder.[1]
Service
SNCM (1994-2016)
On March 16, 1994, at 4:00 PM, under the command of Captain Routier, the Paglia Orba left Le Havre for Marseille. The ship docked in the port of the Phocaean city at berth 78 of the Quai du Maroc. On March 21,at 8:00 a.m. It then sets sail in the evening of March 23 for its first commercial voyage to Bastia, its home port, where it will later be christened on April 12, in the presence of his godmother Michelle Baggioni, wife of the president of the Territorial Assembly of Corsica.[2]
In the month of April 1995, the Paglia Orba inaugurates a new connection linking Corsica and Italy between Bastia and Genoa, operated by the subsidiary Corsica Marittima. The first stopover in the Ligurian capital takes place on April 8 at 5:30 pm.[1]
In the early 2000s, the special concession between the French State and SNCM for ferry services to Corsica came to an end. To replace it, a new agreement was established in the form of a public service delegation, jointly awarded to SNCM and La Méridionale following a tender process. The specifications for this new public service arrangement, however, stipulated a minimum passenger capacity of approximately 500 passengers at the ports of Ajaccio and Bastia. Thus, in March 2002, the Paglia Orba went to the Lloyd Werft shipyards in Bremerhaven, Germany, to undergo some work to increase its capacity. To do this, an additional block containing new cabins was added behind its funnels. These modifications brought the total capacity of the ship to 542 passengers.[2]
From 2003 onwards, due to the arrival of the new cargo ship Pascal Paoli, the Paglia Orba was primarily reassigned to the Ajaccio route and secondary ports during the off-season. That same year, on the day of the October 26, the ship makes an exceptional round trip between L'Île-Rousse and Livorno in order to deliver new vehicles loaded the day before at Fos-sur-Mer.[2]
Around the same time, SNCM made a slight change to its visual identity, abandoning the "Ferryterranée" brand. This is why, during its technical stop in the month of April 2004, the "SNCM Ferryterranée" branding was removed from the sides of the Paglia Orba, leaving only the " SNCM" inscription and the company's website address in red. However, due to other priority work, the ship retained its original black hull after this technical stop, while the other cargo ships in the fleet had theirs repainted blue. The Paglia Orba kept its black hull for four years before finally adopting the same color as the rest of the fleet during its technical stop in March 2008.[2]
On the evening of March 6, 2005, while departing from Porto-Vecchio, the ship ran aground on a sandbank while moving between berths P2 and P3. With the assistance of the pilot, however, it managed to free itself under its own power, without suffering any damage.[1]
During 2014, SNCM faced significant difficulties due to fines imposed by the European Commission, which deemed certain subsidies received by the company illegal.[3] Uncertainty regarding the company's future, and particularly the preservation of jobs, triggered industrial action by the seafarers' unions, disrupting the start of the summer season. This situation led to the company being placed under court-ordered administration on November 28, 2014.[4] At the end of the observation period, the Marseille Commercial Court appointed the Rocca group, the leading road haulage company in Corsica, as the buyer of SNCM on November 20, 2015.[5] That same day, during the night of the 20th to November 21, the Paglia Orba broke its moorings in the port of Marseille and struck the quay. Transferred to berth 7, the mixed cargo ship resumed its crossings that same evening, its hull having suffered only minor damage.[6]
On January 5, 2016, at 8:00 a.m., the Paglia Orba arrives in Marseille and completes the last commercial crossing of the SNCM, taken over by the Rocca group and liquidated in favor of the new entity MCM.[1]
Corsica Linea (since 2016)
Transferred to MCM, the Paglia Orba joined the fleet of its subsidiary, Maritima Ferries, an entity dedicated to commercial operations, like the other vessels of the former SNCM. Following its technical refit, the logos of the former state-owned company were removed from the ship's sides, leaving it devoid of any commercial markings. Despite the change of ownership, the mixed cargo ship continued its usual service between Marseille, Porto-Vecchio, and Ajaccio. In April, MCM was acquired by Corsica Maritima, a consortium of Corsican companies also bidding to take over SNCM. The Maritima Ferries name was then abandoned in favor of Corsica Linea . The consortium's acquisition of the MCM fleet resulted in a change of identity for the company, notably with the adoption of a red livery for the fleet's ships. Having already completed its technical refit, the Paglia Orba will, from June 6 and onwards, display a red simplified livery in the colours of Corsica Linea for the summer season 2016 characterized by a white hull and red lettering as well as the addition of a black stripe along deck 6.[2]
On April 12, 2016, at approximately 8:15 a.m., suffering from a propulsion system failure, the ship, which was sailing towards Porto-Vecchio, was diverted to the port of Bastia, which it reached in the late afternoon, assisted by the tugboat Altagna.[7] That same year, in August, a plan to sell the ship to the Territorial Collectivity of Corsica (CTC) as part of the establishment of a regional company was announced.[8] According to the CTC's plan, this regional company was supposed to begin operations in 2019; however, the sale of the ship was ultimately cancelled in July 2018.
On January 8, 2017, the Paglia Orba enters Marseille for a technical refit. Extensive work is carried out on board, particularly concerning the dining areas, which are completely renovated. It is during this dry-docking that the ship is painted in Corsica Linea colors. Its hull is repainted red and displays the company's logo, featuring the Corsican Moor's head, at the bow.[9]
During its technical stop in Bizerte on January 8 to February 6, 2019, the ship is being modified to be optimized for the shore power connections in the port of Marseille, similar to the ships of La Méridionale. The Paglia Orba is therefore the first Corsica Linea vessel to be adapted to this system aimed at reducing CO2 emissions during his stopovers in the Phocaean city.[10]
Like the Pascal Paoli and the Jean Nicoli, fume scrubbers, designed to reduce sulfur emissions, were installed on board the Paglia Orba during a technical stop at the Palumbo shipyards in Valletta on September 20. On December 2, 2020, the installation of the system entails some changes to the appearance of the chimneys. This work was originally scheduled for early 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the morning of January 25, 2021, while nearing completion of a crossing between Marseille and Bastia, the Paglia Orba was unable to dock due to particularly bad weather conditions. The ship was then forced to remain at anchor outside the port, awaiting a possible break in the weather.[11] It was only in the late afternoon, around 5:30 p.m., that the authorities authorized the mixed cargo ship to dock, but during the maneuver, carried out with the assistance of the Bastia port pilot, the Paglia Orba struck a shoal, causing a leak and damage to the port propeller.[12] Once the hundred or so passengers and the cargo had been unloaded, the crew, with the help of firefighters and divers, managed to plug the breach the following day.[13] The damage sustained by the ship, however, necessitated its immobilization for several weeks. After initially staying in Bastia, he subsequently headed to Tunisia on February 8 in order to be restored to the Menzel Bourguiba shipyards.[14]
On February 7, 2022, as strong winds hit the port of Marseille, the moorings of the Paglia Orba broke at the quayside before the ship struck the breakwater, causing the cancellation of its crossing to Porto-Vecchio. It left two days later, after some repairs had been carried out.[15]
On April 25, 2023, the Paglia Orba, which had departed Marseille the previous day with 307 passengers and 177 vehicles, made its first port call in Algeria as part of its commercial service, docking in Skikda around 10:30 a.m., also marking Corsica Linea 's first call at this Algerian port, formerly served by SNCM.[16][17] A week later, on May 2 the ship docked for the first time in Béjaïa with 272 passengers and 177 vehicles.[18] The Paglia Orba thus served Algeria once a week before the Jean Nicoli took over from June 26. During the summer, it was used on supplementary rotations to Corsica between Marseille, Propriano and Bastia.[19] At the end of the season, it then provided the Marseille- L'Île-Rousse service, replacing the Monte d'Oro, which was out of service following a breakdown, until January 10, 2024.[20]
Facilities
The Paglia Orba has nine decks. Although the ship actually spans eleven decks, two of them are devoid of garage space. Passenger quarters are located on decks 4, 5, and part of deck 6, while crew quarters occupy a large portion of deck 6. Decks 1, 2, 2/3, and 3 house the garages.[2]
Common areas
The Paglia Orba offers its passengers classic amenities. These facilities, all located on deck 5, include a lounge bar at the bow, a restaurant at the stern, and a fast-food area at the bow on the port side. Upon joining the Corsica Linea fleet, the interior decor was modernized in early 2017.[1]
Cabins
The Paglia Orba has 137 private cabins, all located on deck 4. They can accommodate up to four people and each has a private bathroom with shower, toilet, and sink. A lounge with 48 seats, located on deck 5, is available for passengers without a cabin reservation.[1]
Features
The Paglia Orba is 165.80 meters long and 29.2 meters wide, with a draft of 6.63 meters and a gross tonnage of 29,718 GT. The ship has a capacity of 544 passengers and a 2,300-meter roll-off garage that can accommodate 147 trailers and 120 vehicles. It is accessible via two stern ramps, each 16.50 meters high and 8 meters wide, as well as a forward ramp, which will be closed in November 2006 for non-compliance with new safety standards. Its propulsion is provided by four Wärtsilä-Vasa 16V32DF semi-high-speed diesel engines, 16-cylinder V-configurations developing a capacity of 19,700 kW, driving two controllable-pitch propellers that propel the vessel at over 19 knots. The combined passenger/cargo ship is also equipped with two 1,400 kW KaMeWa bow thrusters and an ACH roll stabilizer with two retractable fins. The ship carries two large enclosed lifeboats, supplemented by two medium-sized lifeboats, a rigid inflatable boat, and numerous life rafts. Since 2020, the Paglia Orba has been equipped with scrubbers, exhaust gas cleaning devices designed to reduce its sulfur emissions.[1]
Routes served
Since its commissioning, the Paglia Orba has been dedicated to the transport of freight and passengers on the routes linking Marseille and Corsica, mainly on night crossings, as part of the subsidized service to the island.
At the beginning of its career, the Paglia Orba operated on the Marseille - Bastia route with overnight crossings. From 1995, in addition to its primary role, the mixed cargo ship was also deployed on the Bastia - Genoa route for the subsidiary Corsica Marittima until 1999. In 2003, replaced on the Bastia route by the Pascal Paoli, the Paglia Orba was used year-round on the Ajaccio route and occasionally on the Porto-Vecchio route. In 2009, following the addition of the Jean Nicoli to the fleet, the ship was assigned to the Marseille-Porto-Vecchio route from mid-September to mid-June and the Marseille-Ajaccio route from mid-June to mid-September.[2]
Despite its transfer to Corsica Linea in 2016, the Paglia Orba initially retained its usual route before replacing the Girolata of La Méridionale between Marseille and Ajaccio from October 1, 2019, within the framework of the new public service delegation (DSP). Despite this main assignment, it nevertheless switched with the Vizzavona, which suffered a technical problem disrupting its operation, and sailed on the Bastia line for a large part of 2020.[21]
During 2021, due to damage, the vessel was out of service for an extended period. Intended to operate the Marseille-Ajaccio route with La Méridionale, in accordance with the agreement between the two shipping companies under a new Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract, it was ultimately replaced on this route by A Nepita and made additional crossings to Bastia, Ajaccio, and Porto-Vecchio until September. From the off-season onward, it primarily replaces the company's other vessels during periods of maintenance, sometimes sailing to L'Île-Rousse, sometimes to Porto-Vecchio. In 2022, its assignments are more similar to those of previous PSO contracts, with its use on the Marseille-Ajaccio route during the summer season and on the Marseille-Porto-Vecchio route the rest of the year. On January 1, 2023, due to the awarding of the Porto-Vecchio route to La Méridionale during the seven-year renewal of the Public Service Delegation (DSP), the Paglia Orba was initially assigned primarily to the Marseille- Propriano route before being replaced by A Nepita from March 1st. From April 2023 the vessel is now primarily used for additional sailings to Propriano and Bastia during the spring and summer seasons. In the low and mid-seasons, it regularly replaces vessels on the Corsican network during their maintenance periods. Since 2023, it has also been occasionally used on international routes to Algeria. For example, during the springs of 2023 and 2024, the vessel operated one round trip per week from Marseille to Béjaïa or Skikda.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 https://www.faktaomfartyg.se/paglia_orba_1994.htm.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "M/F Paglia Orba — The Ferry Site". www.ferry-site.dk. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "SNCM : la justice européenne oblige la France à récupérer 220 millions". Le marin (in French). 2017-02-28. Archived from the original on 2025-03-26. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "La SNCM placée en redressement judiciaire". BFM BUSINESS (in French). 2014-11-28. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Rocca prend possession de l'ex-SNCM dont l'avenir est incertain". Capital.fr (in French). 2016-02-18. Archived from the original on 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "SNCM : le Paglia Orba heurte le quai à Marseille". Corse Matin (in French). 2015-11-21. Archived from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Le Paglia Orba dérouté sur Bastia après une panne de moteur". Corse Matin (in French). 2016-04-12. Archived from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ AFP. "La Corse se dote d'un nouvel outil juridique pour gérer sa desserte maritime". L'Antenne - Les transports et la logistique au quotidien (in French). Archived from the original on 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (2017-02-17). "Corsica Linea : Le Paglia Orba passe au rouge | Mer et Marine". www.meretmarine.com (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ Fanchi, José. "Corsica Linea : Le "Paglia Orba" équipé de l'électrification à quai". Corse Net Infos - Pure player corse (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ rédaction, La. "Vent violent : deux bateaux bloqués au large de Bastia". Corse Net Infos - Pure player corse (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Le "Paglia Orba" de la Corsica Linea heurte les quais à son arrivée au port de Bastia". France 3 Corse ViaStella (in French). 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Le Paglia Orba percute un haut fond en rentrant au port de Bastia". www.corsematin.com (in French). 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Bastia : le Paglia Orba a repris la mer, direction le chantier naval en Tunisie". www.corsematin.com (in French). 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "VIDÉO - Vents violents : un bateau Corsica Linea brise ses amarres à Marseille - ICI". ici.fr (in French). 2022-02-08. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Corsica linea lance une liaison avec le port algérien de Skikda pour l'été". Le marin (in French). 2023-04-24. Archived from the original on 2025-12-19. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ Voyagerdz (2023-04-25). "Corsica Linea: Première traversée Marseille-Skikda (Photos)". Voyagerdz (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Transport maritime Marseille-Béjaïa: Le carferry Paglia Orba accoste au port | Le jour d'Algérie". www.lejourdalgerie.com. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Cet été, 28 rotations supplémentaires programmées à Propriano". www.corsematin.com (in French). 2023-03-02. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Le « Monte d'Oro » de Corsica linea remis en service après sept mois d'absence". Le marin (in French). 2024-01-31. Archived from the original on 2025-07-20. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ Monti, Charles. "Corsica Linea : "gérer efficacement des aléas majeurs d'exploitation"". Corse Net Infos - Pure player corse (in French). Retrieved 2026-08-03.