Bluferries
Bluferries operates a fleet of five specialized Ro-Ro ferries, providing 24/7 vehicle and passenger transport across the Strait of Messina between Villa San Giovanni and Messina/Tremestieri for commercial freight operators, bus companies, and private travelers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersMessina, Italy
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bluferries does
Bluferries S.r.l. is an Italian maritime transportation company that operates Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) passenger and vehicle ferry services across the Strait of Messina, connecting Villa San Giovanni (Calabria) to Messina/Tremestieri (Sicily). The company runs a fleet of five specialized bidirectional Ro-Ro ferries — Athena (launched 2023, with 4x380 kW electric propulsion), Sikania (2019), Trinacria (2016), Enotria (2002), and Fata Morgana (1988) — capable of transporting commercial vehicles (including ADR hazardous goods), buses, coaches, private cars, campers, motorcycles, bicycles, and foot passengers. Service is continuous, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, with elevated frequency during the summer peak period.
The underlying technology and platform is built around bidirectional Ro-Ro vessel design enabling fast and frequent loading/unloading cycles, integrated PMR (Persons with Reduced Mobility) accessibility systems on four of the five vessels (Fata Morgana excepted), and physical port terminal infrastructure at both Messina Marittima and Tremestieri. Bluferries holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications and operates under EU Regulation 1177/2010 on passenger rights and Italian Ministry of Transport approvals.
Bluferries is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane S.p.A. (the Italian state railway conglomerate), positioned within the FS Logistix division that integrates sea, road, and rail logistics. Revenue is generated on a transaction-fee basis: per-crossing ticket sales with vehicle-class-based unit pricing (commercial vehicles, buses, passenger cars, campers, motorcycles, bicycles), a 10% online purchase discount as the primary pricing lever, and distribution across a direct WebShop, the MooneyGo mobile app, physical ticket offices, ENI service stations, and a dedicated B2B commercial vehicle desk. Customer segments span commercial freight operators (primary), coach/bus companies (primary), and individual private vehicle owners (primary), with pedestrians and cyclists as a secondary segment on selected routes.
Bluferries firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bluferries
- Legal name
- Bluferries S.r.l
- Website
- https://bluferries.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Bluferries operates a fleet of five specialized Ro-Ro ferries, providing 24/7 vehicle and passenger transport across the Strait of Messina between Villa San Giovanni and Messina/Tremestieri for commercial freight operators, bus companies, and private travelers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bluferries industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Maritime Ferry Transportation Services
- NAICS
- Water Transportation (483), Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ro-Pax Ferry Operators (Passenger + Vehicle Ferries) (TLAFALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Passenger Ferry Operators (Interisland/Intercity) (TLAFALAA), RoPax Ferry Operators (Passenger + Vehicle) (THAEAGAC), Passenger Ferry Operators (Intercity & Regional) (THAEAGAA)
Keywords
Where Bluferries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Messina
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Bluferries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Passenger and Vehicle Ferry Ticket Sales: Bluferries generates revenue through the sale of ferry tickets for the crossing of the Strait of Messina (Villa San Giovanni - Messina/Tremestieri route). Tickets are sold for private vehicles (cars, campers, motorcycles), commercial vehicles (trucks, freight), and buses. Prices vary by vehicle type, length, and round-trip options. A 10% discount is offered for online purchases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Online purchase discount for cars/campers/motorcycles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Commercial vehicle transport tariff |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bus/coach transport tariff |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Car/camper/motorcycle transport tariff |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bicycle/motorcycle transport tariff |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Bluferries product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bluferries operates Ro-Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off) passenger ferry services across the Strait of Messina, connecting Villa San Giovanni (Calabria) to Messina/Tremestieri (Sicily) on a 24/7, 365-day basis. Its modern fleet of five bidirectional vessels transports commercial vehicles (including ADR hazardous goods), buses, cars, campers, motorcycles, and bicycles. The company sells tickets through online channels (with 10% discount), a mobile app, and physical ticket offices, serving both individual travelers and commercial freight operators.
Product overview
Bluferries operates as a maritime ferry company providing Ro-Ro passenger ferry services across the Strait of Messina. The fleet consists of five vessels—Athena, Sikania, Trinacria, Enotria, and Fata Morgana—offering 24/7 transport between Villa San Giovanni and Messina/Tremestieri ports. Services include transportation of commercial vehicles (including ADR goods), private cars, campers, motorcycles, and bicycles. Ticket distribution channels include online booking via the website (with 10% discount), in-person at physical outlets, and the MooneyGo mobile application. The company also provides accessibility services for Persons with Reduced Mobility (PMR) on most vessels except Fata Morgana.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ro-Ro Passenger Ferry Service (Traghettamento) Ro-Ro passenger ferry service operating 24/7, 365 days a year across the Strait of Messina, connecting Villa San Giovanni to Messina/Tremestieri ports via bidirectional vessels. Transports commercial vehicles (trucks, freight), buses/coaches, cars, campers, motorcycles, and bicycles for both individual travelers and commercial operators.
- Online Ticket Booking (Bluferries WebShop) Web-based ticket purchasing platform enabling customers to buy ferry tickets online for the Villa San Giovanni - Messina/Tremestieri route with a 10% discount versus in-person prices. Supports route selection, date picking, and vehicle category options for cars, campers, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles.
- MooneyGo Mobile Application Mobile application for purchasing and managing Bluferries ferry tickets directly from smartphones, providing a mobile-first digital ticket sales channel for travelers on the Messina Strait route.
- ADR Hazardous Goods Ferry Transport Specialized ferry transport service for ADR-classified (Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route) hazardous goods across the Strait of Messina, available on Bluferries' commercial vehicle ferry operations.
- PMR (Persons with Reduced Mobility) Accessibility Services Accessibility services for Persons with Reduced Mobility on board the Enotria, Trinacria, Sikania, and Athena vessels, including paths for visually impaired persons, tactile maps, automatic elevation systems, and dedicated wheelchair anchor points, in compliance with Decreto Dirigenziale n. 18 del 05.02.2026 and EU Regulation 1177/2010.
Quantifiable outcome
- 24/7 operations, 365 days per year on the Strait of Messina route
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Bluferries
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bluferries technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Bluferries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FS LogistixcoreBluferries is a subsidiary of FS Logistix, the logistics division of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Group). FS Logistix guides innovation in freight transport, combining sea, road, and rail. Bluferries operates as one of the group companies providing integrated logistics services.
- Touring ClubminorBluferries and Touring Club are partners in the Strait of Messina crossing, providing benefits for Touring Club members or coordinated services. Referenced as 'Partner nello Stretto di Messina'.
- Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Group)coreBluferries is part of the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane group, Italy's state railway conglomerate. The FS Group umbrella provides institutional backing, brand association, and integration with broader national transport infrastructure.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bluferries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- RFI (Rete Ferroviaria Italiana): FS Group sister company managing Italy's rail infrastructure. Not a ferry operator, but directly comparable as part of Bluferries' parent FS Group ecosystem and the integration between rail infrastructure and Bluferries' maritime operations on the Strait of Messina.
- FS Logistix: Bluferries' direct parent within Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, integrating sea, road, and rail freight. Listed as a peer because it sets the strategic and commercial context for Bluferries and bundles its services into multimodal logistics offerings.
Direct peers
- Moby Lines: Italian ferry operator providing Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax services for vehicles and passengers, primarily to Sardinia and Corsica. Comparable in product (vehicle ferries), customer segments (commercial vehicles, cars, foot passengers), and operations, but operating on a different geography from Bluferries' Strait of Messina route.
- Caremar: Campania-region ferry operator (subsidiary of Tirrenia/CIN) providing Ro-Pax services between Naples and the Gulf islands. Comparable to Bluferries as a regional Italian Ro-Pax operator with vehicle ferry services, though serving a different coastal geography.
- Caronte & Tourist: The principal competing ferry operator on the Strait of Messina, providing Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax services for vehicles and passengers between Villa San Giovanni and Messina. It is the most direct peer to Bluferries given shared route, customer base (commercial vehicles, cars, buses), and product (vehicle ferry crossings).
- Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV): Major Italian Ro-Pax ferry operator running vehicle and passenger services on Mediterranean routes (Sicily, Sardinia, Tunisia, Spain, France). Comparable to Bluferries in vehicle ferry operations, multi-channel distribution, and freight/passenger mix, though operating longer international and inter-island routes.
- Tirrenia (CIN - Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione): Italy's historic state-linked Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax ferry operator serving Sardinia, Sicily, and other islands with vehicle and passenger ferries. Comparable to Bluferries as a state-influenced operator of Ro-Pax ferry services for vehicles and passengers, although serving longer inter-island routes.
Regional players
- SNAV (Navigazione Veloce): Italian fast ferry/hydrofoil operator serving the Gulf of Naples, Capri, Ischia, Procida, and Pontine Islands. Comparable to Bluferries as a passenger maritime transport operator in Italian coastal waters, though focused on fast passenger services rather than Ro-Pax vehicle ferries.
- Alilauro: Italian passenger ferry and hydrofoil operator serving the Bay of Naples, Aeolian Islands, and Pontine Islands. Comparable in offering passenger maritime transport services in Italian coastal waters, though primarily a fast passenger operator without Bluferries' heavy Ro-Ro vehicle focus.
- Saremar: Sardinia-region public ferry operator providing Ro-Pax services between Sardinia's main ports and smaller islands. Comparable to Bluferries as a state/region-linked Ro-Pax operator serving island-mainland connections with vehicle ferry services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bluferries social profiles
Digital presenceBluferries compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Bluferries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bluferries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Bluferries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bluferries M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bluferries
What does Bluferries do?
Bluferries operates Ro-Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off) passenger ferry services across the Strait of Messina, connecting Villa San Giovanni (Calabria) to Messina/Tremestieri (Sicily) on a 24/7, 365-day basis. Its modern fleet of five bidirectional vessels transports commercial vehicles (including ADR hazardous goods), buses, cars, campers, motorcycles, and bicycles. The company sells tickets through online channels (with 10% discount), a mobile app, and physical ticket offices, serving both individual travelers and commercial freight operators.
Is Bluferries a public or private company?
Bluferries is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Bluferries founded?
Bluferries was founded in 2002. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Bluferries based?
Bluferries is headquartered in Messina, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Bluferries make money?
One revenue line is on record: passenger and Vehicle Ferry Ticket Sales.
Who are Bluferries's main competitors?
Others on record are RFI (Rete Ferroviaria Italiana) and FS Logistix. Direct peers are Moby Lines, Caremar, Caronte & Tourist, Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) and Tirrenia (CIN - Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione). Regional players are SNAV (Navigazione Veloce), Alilauro and Saremar.
Does Bluferries have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bluferries.
What industry is Bluferries in?
Bluferries's product category is Maritime Ferry Transportation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFALAD, Ro-Pax Ferry Operators (Passenger + Vehicle Ferries), with a secondary code of TLAFALAA, Passenger Ferry Operators (Interisland/Intercity). Its NAICS code is 483 and its SIC code is 4400.