Venice-Alexandria ferry cancelled!

[Peter Girling]

Hi all,

Visemar have suspended the Venice-Alex ferry service - more here:-

Visemar Line - Visemar Line

They're still running a roro freight service so looking shipping the vehicle and then flying in to Egypt.

The other option is reverting to the drive through Syria. Any info on the current situation on the ground greatly appreciated.

Happy trails,

Jojo

[jamieT]

Damn Damn Damn

[emmaLF]

We're having the same issue. We were supposed to take the Visemar ferry next week and then drive from Alexandria to Cape Town. Options we're currently exploring are:

1. Shipping (either with Visemar or someone else) to Alexandria or elsewhere in Egypt

2. Taking a ferry to Israel with Grimaldi Cruises and then driving over the border to Egypt

3. Shipping to Kenya and flying to Alexandria and using public transport to get to Kenya in the meantime

4. Shipping to Cape Town, and driving up instead of down

Would appreciate hearing of any other ideas out there!

Thanks,

[Chris Scott]

For the Syria option see this HUBB forum:
Middle East - The HUBB

From what it says there today it does not sound completely out of the question, but of course would be tense and unpredictable.

[chica diabla]

o shit! I guess that also means cancellation from alexandria to venice?

Els

[Squire]

Humm, thanks for the information. I was actually planning to catch the ferry from Alexandria to Venice for a vacation in Europe this summer... indeed a bugger. For those coming to Egypt, I think RORO is the best option although I'd need to learn more about it. For sure the RORO option allows for more time enjoying the Venice and/or Alexandria areas instead of being stuck on the ferry boat for 60 hours. Those getting sea sick will like the idea of flying -- unless they get air sick as well! Double pleasure of enjoying and saving some bucks since I understand there are low-cost flights between Milano and Alexandria. Of course securing the material for unattended RORO transportation needs caution and one would better insure all of it with a detailed inventory list. Trouble is if anything goes missing upon arrival, replacement in Egypt is somehow not that easy. Also in exploring alternatives, note the ferry option to Israel and then into Egypt could cause difficulties entering Sudan later on I read on the HUBB. You may want to dig into the site to learn more. Life is like a chocolate box said Forrest Gump's mother...

[Squire]

While seeking for an alternative to the Alexandria – Venice ferry service by Visemar, I searched and found information on ports of departure/arrival and schedule for RO/RO service with a stop in Alexandria. No cost information available yet, I sent a request and expect a return soon.

Grimaldi (Napoli based) offers a wide range of services for sea freight, including two of relevance to fellow overlanders having to adjust plans in view of the cacellation of Visemar ferry services. Only Euro.Med and Adriatic services from Grimaldi seem accessible for private vehicles, with quite a number of sea port options includiong some in Belgium, UK, Italy and others.

Here’s the latest available schedule for the Euro-Med service
http://www.grimaldi.napoli.it/pdf/sc...ed_service.pdf

and for the Adriatic service :
http://www.grimaldi.napoli.it/pdf/sc...ic_service.pdf

Should you be reverting to this thread in the future, you should follow this link instead and select both:
Euro Med

I have never used these services so please don’t shoot me if I’m wrong, but it does seem like an interesting alternative to reach the African continent in the coming months, or else reach Europe for those heading North.

I was very wrong yesterday proposing to look at the bright side of staying about 60 hours longer in Venice and/or Alexandria. I somehow had imagined the RO/RO service to Egypt was scheduled almost as the former ferry service. Now the real figures looking closely at the schedule…

Sending the vehicle from Savona (between Genova in Italy and Nice in France) to Alexandria would take one full month, e.g. departing 4 June arrival in Alexandria scheduled for 3 July. The same vessel stops mid-way at Southampton (UK) on 18 June on a loop to a number of other ports.There are departures every week with Euro-Med. The other way around, e.g. for those leaving Alexandria, let’s say depart on 12 June is scheduled to arrive Savona on 18 June (6 days) so quite fast, and Souhampton on 2 July, so 3 weeks.

As for the Adriatic service, there are less sea port stops, but also there’s only one vessel going to Egypt (named Euroc. Valencia). Curiously the only vessel also going to Venice.. could it be the same that has just been cancelled ? Anyway, following the same « traveling in loop logic », it would take 6 days from Venice to Alexandria, and only 4 from Alexandria to Venice.

It could be an option, I’d like to read more about it. I’ll feed in as I receive information from Grimaldi. Has anyone tried any of these services in the past and/or has more information on more practical aspects ?

[*Touring Ted*]

Oh crap.. I wonder why !

I took this ferry in September 2010 and it was great.... Really saved me a lot of time and cash. Libya is obviously no go at the moment and it's a long diversion through Turkey, Syria etc..

[priffe]

Grimaldi also take passengers on some routes.
I know people has gone to Alexandria on Grimaldi, but some years back.

[emmaLF]

Hi all,

Just a quick update. In the end, we decided to ship our car to Alexandria with Grimaldi (Grande Europa). We dropped it off without difficulties in Antwerp last Friday, and we hope to pick it up again in Alexandria on the 15th. So far so good. Now we just have to find out where the boat docks - any info from anyone who has done this before appreciated

Good luck to those of you who are also trying to get to Egypt.

Emma

[kingkurt]

Hi Emma

I too need to be in North Africa in the next few months as am driving from the UK to Uganda and have spent 100s of hrs trying different routes

Any more info you could give me on how you shipped you car would be most appreciated

cheers

Kurtis

Originally Posted by emmaLF

Hi all,

Just a quick update. In the end, we decided to ship our car to Alexandria with Grimaldi (Grande Europa). We dropped it off without difficulties in Antwerp last Friday, and we hope to pick it up again in Alexandria on the 15th. So far so good. Now we just have to find out where the boat docks - any info from anyone who has done this before appreciated

Good luck to those of you who are also trying to get to Egypt.

Emma

[Trumpton]

If its going to Alex Old port (& I hope for your sake it is!), just ask around at the dock gates, but if it goes to Alex dekhila port you will be in for a nightmare!!!

Check with grimaldi, but I am fairly sure they only go to Alex old port.

I would be interested to know how you get on with the ro ro option as I was going on the ferry & dont really fancy syria at the moment.

I have containered before and it was , to put it very mildly, BIG HASSLE!

have been out there twice since the revolution & nothing seems to have changed beauracracy wise!

Andy

[ProperJob]

We are currently in Egypt and looking for alternatives since the easy option Visemar ferry from Alexandria to Venice was canceled. The route through Syria from here looks closed for now. Friends have failed to get visas from Cairo.
The only reasonable option we have found is shipping with a cargo container from here to Europe. There are many boats leaving Alexandria to various destinations.
I am using a company based in Alexandria to organize and assist with transportation. They also have people that will help travelers complete the paperwork (traffic attourney, number plates etc). Best thing is that they are conversant in English. I am due to ship out the 23rd directly to Southampton, takes two to three weeks in total.
The person that I am using and details for her are

Mrs Nashwa EL Hossary
Export Dept. Manager
export@smarina.com
Marina Shipping agencies
Tel: 002-03-4863647
Fax: 002-03-4856941
Mobile: 0129136600

[Squire]

I'm in contact with Ms Nashwa from Marina Shipping. Here's the quotation I got this week-end to send from Alexandria Old Port to Southampton (among quite a number of options):

P.O.L : Alexandria old port.
Destination: Southampton (GB).

LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 SW from 2006
Vehicle is in perfect condition.
Weight (kgs): 2020
Length (mm): 4639
Width (mm): 1790
Height (mm): 2021

- Rate : Ocean freight : Euro 250/Unit + BAF 40% = Total : Euro 350/Unit.

- L.THC : Approx. L.E 300/Unit.
- Telex release fees (If requested) : L.E 30 Per B/L.
- Custom clearance for shipper's care & expenses.

- T.T : Approx. 2 Weeks.

- Vessels Sailing Schedule - Alex/ Southampton :

Kindly note The required docs as follows :

1-Shippers ID Or Passport
2-Shipper’s Driving License
3-All Car’s Relevant Docs ( Trip Ticket , License, ….etc)
4-Full Name , Address and tel no. for both Shipper and Rcvr ( To Be Written in the shipping Declaration )

Remark :
-------------
-The Car must be delivered to Our Port in The morning of The Vsls Arrival Day
-Time arrival Of Vsl is subject to variation without prior notification

I'm expecting details to ship RoRo to Venice later today, hoping to post details soon. They also will take motorbikes onboard for those interested.

[ProperJob]

Hi Squire
Is the RoRo you refer to the same ship that was named on the Visemar news announcement of the cancellation of the car/passenger ferry to Venice " .....However, freight capacity will be increased on the route from beginning of June 2011 due to the replacement of the Ro/Pax VISEMAR ONE with Mv CRAGSIDE, a new Ro/Ro ro-ro vessel."
I spoke to Mr Hanaffy at the Inchcape Shipping Servies and he told me that "...Please note so far, the new roro vessel will be cargo purpose only during june and the line will stop till September" When I spoke to him abut it he told me the ship could not take cars.

Have you heard differently ? If so please do tell !!

ProperJob