Consorzio Liguria Via Mare

What Consorzio Liguria Via Mare does

Consorzio Liguria Via Mare is an Italian marine tourism consortium headquartered in Genoa, operating passenger boat excursions along the Ligurian coast. The consortium was formed in 1998 through the union of Alimar and Battellieri del Porto di Genova, combining the fleets and operations of the two principal boat operators in Genoa and the Western Riviera; commercial roots trace to 1955 with the launch of the 'Genova dal Mare' harbor tour. The company operates two motor vessels — the Rodi Jet (345-passenger capacity, built 1998, ISM certified) and the Neptunus (142-passenger capacity, built 1992) — and serves individual tourists, families, schools, cruise lines, and event organizers with excursions departing from four boarding points: Genova Porto Antico, Genova Pegli, Savona, and Varazze.

The service portfolio spans core excursions (Portofino, San Fruttuoso, whale watching in the Pelagos Cetacean Sanctuary, Genoa harbor tours, sunset cruises with live music, astronomy nights, fireworks displays), specialized services (weddings and civil unions on board, parties accommodating up to 350 guests, ash scattering at sea), and B2B partnerships (cruise line transfers, event transport for Salone Nautico and Euroflora, school excursions with marine biologist commentary). The technical foundation is built on ISM certification from RINA and the Italian Coast Guard authorizing navigation up to 20 nautical miles offshore, electronic navigation instruments, and embedded marine biology expertise.

The business model is transactional and per-seat, with ticket prices ranging from €5 to €37.50 across adult, youth, and child categories, plus group/school pricing tiers. Revenue is generated through direct online booking (GoBook.it and own website), walk-up ticket office sales, third-party marketplace (Groupon), B2B partnerships with travel agencies and tour operators, and cruise line transfer contracts. Marketing relies on TripAdvisor reputation (Hall of Fame inductee 2018), website content, Facebook presence, and partner referrals. The consortium operates as a cooperative entity owned by its two member operators, with no external venture capital or institutional investor involvement.

Name

Consorzio Liguria Via Mare

Legal name

Consorzio Liguria Via Mare

Website

https://liguriaviamare.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Consorzio Liguria Via Mare is a Genoa-based marine tourism consortium operating boat excursions along the Ligurian coast, serving tourists, schools, cruise lines, and event clients with whale watching, Portofino tours, and harbor cruises from a two-vessel fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Tourism and Boat Excursion Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whale Watching & Marine Mammal Tours (THAAAIAC), Private Yacht & Luxury Boat Charters (With Crew) (THAJALAE), Shore Excursion Operators (Tours & Activities) (THAEAFAC), Marine Wildlife & Birding Cruises (dolphins, seals, seabirds) (THAAAIAD), Crewed Yacht Charters (Luxury Crewed) (THAEAEAA)

Keywords

• Marine tourism services
• Boat excursions
• Whale watching tours
• Harbor sightseeing cruises
• Coastal charter services

Headquarters

HQ city

Genoa

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Guided Sea Tours: Standard excursion tickets for Portofino, San Fruttuoso, whale watching, Genova dal Mare harbor tours, and sunset cruises. Revenue from individual ticket sales across multiple price points based on tour type and passenger age.
2. Private Boat Charters: Exclusive boat rentals for personalized excursions, weddings, parties, anniversaries, and corporate events. Customers can charter vessels with or without navigation for private events.
3. Ash Scattering Services: Boat rental service for scattering ashes at sea, complying with Genoa municipality regulations, with option for tax-deductible invoices.
4. Transfer Services: Port transfer services for cruise passengers between cruise terminals and city attractions, plus urban sea transport during major events.
5. School/Educational Programs: Educational excursions for schools with discounted group pricing, including whale watching, port tours, bird watching, and maritime arts programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Consorzio Liguria Via Mare operates scheduled and chartered boat excursions from Genoa and other Ligurian ports, offering whale watching tours in the Pelagos Cetacean Sanctuary, sightseeing trips to Portofino and San Fruttuoso, Genoa harbor tours, sunset and stargazing evening cruises, and specialized services including private charters for weddings, parties, school groups, ash scattering at sea, and cruise passenger transfers. The consortium runs two ISM-certified motor vessels (Rodi Jet for 345 passengers and Neptunus for 142 passengers) and positions itself as Italy's leading whale watching operator.

Product overview

Consorzio Liguria Via Mare operates as a marine tourism consortium offering a portfolio of boat excursion services departing from Genoa Porto Antico and other Ligurian ports. The core offerings include day trips to Portofino and San Fruttuoso, whale watching expeditions in the Pelagos Cetacean Sanctuary (since 1998), and guided tours of Genoa harbor (since 1955). The service portfolio also encompasses specialized offerings including sunset tours with live music, night excursions featuring stargazing and fireworks viewing, personalized exclusive boat rentals, and event hosting services for weddings, parties, and ceremonies. Educational services for schools include whale watching, ornithological tours, and maritime arts programs. The fleet comprises two motor vessels: the Rodi Jet (345 passengers, ISM certified for whale watching) and Neptunus (142 passengers). Booking is handled through an external online reservation system. The consortium positions itself as Italy's leading whale watching operator.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Portofino Excursion

Quantifiable outcome

• Free re-booking within 1 year if no whale sighting
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alimar and Battellieri del Porto di GenovacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsorzio Liguria Via Mare was formed from the union of the two main operators in Genoa and the Western Riviera: Alimar and Battellieri del Porto di Genova. These founding partners combined their fleets and operations to create the consortium.
• Make a Wish ItaliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe consortium has collaborated with Make a Wish Italia for years to return smiles to seriously ill children, offering special boat experiences.
• Genova GuideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Genova Guide for land-based guided tours of the city after sea excursions. Their guided visits complement the Genoa by Sea tours.
• Osservatorio Astronomico di GenovaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the Genoa Astronomical Observatory for Stars at Sea night tours, offering astronomy lessons and celestial observation experiences.
• RINA (Registro Italiano Navale)coreTechnology or IntegrationRINA issued the ISM (International Safety Management) Code certification to the consortium's vessels, authorizing navigation up to 20 nautical miles offshore and whale watching operations.
• Italian Coast Guard (Guardia Costiera Italiana)coreTechnology or IntegrationCoast Guard certification and periodic inspections ensure safety standards for passenger vessels.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Alimar (founding partner): One of the two Genoa-based boat operators that merged to form Consorzio Liguria Via Mare; relevant ecosystem participant and historic counterparty for understanding the consortium's competitive position in Genoa's passenger marine services market.

Direct peers

• Servizio Marittimo del Tigullio: Provides scheduled coastal passenger water transport in the Tigullio Gulf (Santa Margherita, Portofino, Rapallo) — directly comparable small-vessel Ligurian coastal excursion operator competing for the same Ligurian Riviera di Levante tourist market.
• Navigazione Cinque Terre (Consorzio Marittimo Cinque Terre): Operates ferry and boat excursion services along the Cinque Terre and Portovenere coastline in Liguria — comparable business model (scheduled coastal excursions, harbor tours, summer seasonal operation) targeting international tourists on the same Ligurian coast.
• Navigazione Golfo Paradiso: Operates passenger boat excursions and ferry services between Camogli, San Fruttuoso, and Portofino along the Ligurian coast — overlapping itineraries with Consorzio Liguria Via Mare and competing for the same day-trip and snorkeling/beach tourist segment.
• Traghetti Porto Venere: Local ferry and boat tour operator connecting Porto Venere, Lerici, and the Cinque Terre; comparable scale and operating model (small fleet, scheduled summer tours) targeting a Ligurian coastal tourist market adjacent to Liguria Via Mare's service area.
• Futurismo Azores Adventures: Azores-based whale watching and marine tourism operator with on-board biologists and re-sighting guarantees — closest international benchmark to Liguria Via Mare's whale watching product and sustainability positioning.
• Whale Watch Kaikoura (Dolphin Encounter): Established New Zealand whale watching operator with on-board marine biologists, scientific data collection, and 95% sighting rate guarantees — internationally comparable mature eco-certified cetacean tour business.
• Steno Natura: Sardinia-based cetacean watching and marine biology-led boat tours — directly comparable whale-watching operator offering on-board biologist commentary and certified sustainable practices similar to Liguria Via Mare's Pelagos Sanctuary product.

Broad incumbents

• MSC Cruises: One of the world's largest cruise lines and a major homeport operator in Genoa — comparable as a buyer of Liguria Via Mare's link/transfer services and as a scaled ecosystem participant in Genoa cruise tourism.
• Costa Cruises: Major Genoa-headquartered cruise line; a key Liguria Via Mare B2B partner for passenger transfer services and a broader benchmark for Genoa's cruise and excursion ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Consorzio-Liguria-Via-Mare-118493504457
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/consorzio-liguria-via-mare

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Consorzio Liguria Via Mare