Tripoli, 24 January 2013:
Italian-headquartered Med Cross Lines has announced that it will be expanding its Europe to Libya services to include two port calls in Turkey.
Loris Trevisan, CEO of Med Cross Lines, said: “The extended service now includes two of Libya’s major business partners – Italy and Turkey.”
The new route will be serviced by the Birka Express, a 1997 Romanian and Norwegian-built vessel. It has a 1775-metre capacity for ‘ro-ro’ (roll on/roll off) cargo, specifically for the transportation of vehicles. It can also carry 336 containers, or twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
Med Cross Lines said the Birka Express could reach speeds up to 20 knots, which would give fast connections to Libya. Trevisan said: “The two-day shipping link between Izmir, Turkey and Libya will be one of the fastest Ro-Ro and container services,” to the country.
The Birka Express will set sail from Italy on 15 February, leaving Istanbul on 19 February.
The shipping company, established last year, launched its first service from Venice, Italy and Koper, Slovenia, to Libya in November. [/restrict]
