{{short description|Italian shipping line}} {{Infobox company |logo= 209px |image= 210px |type= |foundation=1921 |location=Genoa, Italy |locations= |area_served= |industry=Shipping, Logistics |products = |num_employees= 1100 |homepage=https://www.messinaline.it |name = Messina Line}} '''Messina Line''' is the maritime shipping division of Ignazio Messina & C., one of Italy's most historical shipping lines,<ref name="ship2shore">{{cite web|url=http://www.ship2shore.it/en/shipping/grumpy-gianfranco-messina-passed-away-in-silence_65011.htm|title=Grumpy Gianfranco Messina passed away in silence|website=Ship2Shore|accessdate=2019-01-18}}</ref> operating 21 ships in between owned and chartered, and a total fleet of 41,000 TEU containers.
==Company overview== Messina Line's fleet mainly includes ConRO vessels, able to carry containers on weather deck, and roll-on/roll-off cargo under deck, loaded via quarter stern ramp.
The main services offered are intra Mediterranean,<ref name="ansamed">{{cite web|url=http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/transport/2018/05/22/messina-group-announces-new-italy-tunisia-line_abd99b48-24da-4636-b369-bc8ed51b3e3d.html|title=Messina Group announces new Italy-Tunisia line - Transport - ANSAMed.it|website=ansamed.info|date=22 May 2018 |accessdate=2019-01-18}}</ref> and Europe to East, South and West Africa and Middle East, plus a number of further destinations reached via transhipment. The company also owns a Container Terminal inside the port of Genoa, Italy.
The company started trading in 1921 as "Giuseppe Messina Tabuso", a small shipping line specialising in the distribution of perishables, carried from Sicily to Northern Italy ports. Once the office was moved to Genoa, new trade lanes were opened, including towards Libya. In 1929 the company changed name to "Ignazio Messina & C.", and is awarded the carriage of some postal services on behalf of the Italian Post Office towards North Africa and Libya. From 1935 additional services are added, towards Red Sea, including Port Sudan, Saudi Arabia and East Africa, and later towards Algeria, Lebanon and West Africa.
After the Second War World, the fleet suffered a number of losses, but was slowly rebuilt and enlarged.<ref name="worldmaritimenews">{{cite web|url=https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/62729/italy-ignazio-messina-expands-fleet/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121246/https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/62729/italy-ignazio-messina-expands-fleet/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 19, 2019|title=Italy: Ignazio Messina Expands Fleet|website=World Maritime News|date=6 August 2012 |accessdate=2019-01-18}}</ref>
In February 2017, Mediterranean Shipping Company purchased a 49% stake into Ignazio Messina & C., becoming the minority owner.<ref name="containerst">{{cite web|url=https://www.containerst.com/news/view,msc-looks-set-to-finalise-stake-in-ignazio-messina_52138.htm|website=containerst.com|title=MSC looks set to finalise stake in Ignazio Messina|accessdate=2019-01-18}}</ref> Since 2018 some cooperative activities in between the two companies have started, including vessel chartering.<ref name="themeditelegraph">{{cite web|url=http://www.themeditelegraph.com/en/shipping/shipowners/2018/03/31/messina-charters-two-units-msc-ldQJH0BUduNO3jK6WpsNGP/index.html|title=Messina charters two units to MSC|website=The Medi Telegraph|accessdate=2019-01-18}}</ref>
All Messina Line owned ships are named ''Jolly'' and include a colour spelled in Italian, in their names.
As of today, the company specializes in the maritime transport and distribution of shipping containers, automobiles, trucks, trailers, Mafi roll trailers, heavy construction machineries and further types of static and rolling freight.
==Facts and accidents== thumb|right|mv Jolly Nero, before the accident In September 1987, MV Jolly Rubino is assaulted in Iran and several Crew members are injured, requiring intervention of the Italian Navy.<ref name="upi">{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/10/06/Iraq-vows-revenge-for-Iranian-attack-on-Baghdad/9002560491200/|title=Iraq vows revenge for Iranian attack on Baghdad - UPI Archives|website=upi.com|accessdate=2019-01-18}}</ref>
In 1990, MV Jolly Rosso is investigated for toxic materials smuggling, after being found abandoned close to Cosenza shores.
In 2002, MV Jolly Rubino is lost at sea close to South Africa, due to a fire that broke out in the engine room.<ref name="iol">{{cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/last-days-of-the-jolly-rubino-98864|title=Last days of the Jolly Rubino | IOL News|website=iol.co.za|accessdate=2019-01-18}}</ref>
In December 2010, MV Jolly Amaranto sunk in shallow water near the port of Alexandria in Egypt. The vessel faced a severe storm, developing serious listing. The 21 crew members were rescued, while the ship was lost along with her cargo (over 300 containers and several trucks and cars).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.tradewindsnews.com/safety/jolly-amaranto-sinks/1-1-141290//|title=Jolly Amaranto sinks|website= Tradewindsnews.com |accessdate=2020-01-02}}</ref>
In August 2011, MV Jolly Grigio while sailing towards Marseille, collided with a fishing boat within Naples harbour. The collision caused the death of two fishermen, and the sinking of their boat.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.tradewindsnews.com/safety/officers-held-after-clash/1-1-149411|title=Officers held after clash |website= Tradewindsnews.com |date=12 August 2011 |accessdate=2020-01-02}}</ref>
In May 2013, MV Jolly Nero while manoeuvring within Genoa port basin, lost control hitting and tiering down the Pilot Corporation tower, killing 9 people and injuring 4.<ref name="independent">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italy-cargo-ship-crash-nine-people-feared-dead-after-collision-with-genoa-port-control-tower-8607040.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italy-cargo-ship-crash-nine-people-feared-dead-after-collision-with-genoa-port-control-tower-8607040.html |archive-date=2022-05-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Italy cargo ship crash: Nine people feared dead after collision with Genoa port control tower|website=The Independent|date=10 May 2013 |accessdate=2019-01-18}}</ref>
In May 2023, three vessels were sold to US Department of Transportation Maritime Administration. The 6,300 lane metre capacity MV Jolly Cristallo (renamed MV Cape San Juan, IMO: 9578971), Jolly Perla (renamed MV Cape Starr, IMO: 9578969) and Jolly Quarzo (renamed MV Cape Sable, IMO: 9578983) for circa $90m each. A fourth, Jolly Diamante (renamed MV Liberty Power, IMO: 9578957), was sold months earlier.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1145119/Maersk-sells-more-boxships-while-Messina-halves-deepsea-ro-ro-fleet|title=Messina halves fleet |website= Lloydslist |date=19 May 2023 |accessdate=2023-05-19}}</ref> These vessels are intended to be replaced, to retain the same fleet capacity size.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.tradewindsnews.com/containerships/messina-buys-boxships-and-sells-conros-in-tilt-to-container-sector/2-1-1444010|title=Messina buys boxships |website= Tradewinds|date=2 May 2023 |accessdate=2023-05-19}}</ref>
==See also== [[File:House flag of the Messina Line.svg|thumb|House flag of the Messina Line]] *Ignazio Messina & C. *List of roll-on/roll-off vessel accidents *Mediterranean Shipping Company *Grimaldi Group *Nippon Yusen Kaisha *List of largest container shipping companies
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.messinaline.it Messina Line official web site]
Category:Container shipping companies Category:Ro-ro shipping companies Category:Car carrier shipping companies Category:Shipping companies of Italy Category:Italian brands Category:Transport companies established in 1921 Category:1921 establishments in Italy Category:Companies based in Genoa