The new Iginia ship was inaugurated, for the ferry service in the Strait of Messina. It's about a green ship belonging to the fleet of the Italian railway network (FS Italiane Group). The inauguration was attended by Minister of Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility, Enrico Giovannini. Also present Vera Fiorani, managing director and general manager of RFI; Joseph Martha, RFI navigation director; Gaetano Armao, vice president of the Sicilian Region e Leonardo Santoro, extraordinary commissioner of Messina. Iginia strengthens the RFI fleet of ships between Messina and Villa San Giovanni, together with its twins Messina, Villa, Scilla. And to the ships of the subsidiary Bluferries: Sikania, inaugurated last year, the twin Trinacria, in service since 2018, Enotria, Fata Morgana and Riace.
The Iginia ship, the green ferry
The new ferry, inaugurated today, will be operational tomorrow to transport passengers and vehicles from Messina to Villa San Giovanni. The ship is built by the temporary association of companies made up of the agent T. Mariotti Spa and the principal Officine Meccaniche Navali and Fonderie San Giorgio del Porto Spa. 57 million, 7 of which funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Pnrr) for green technology. The implementation of which, as scheduled, will begin in the coming months.
Green technology
Iginia is green for the propulsion system, also guaranteed by two packs of batteries recharged by the solar panels already installed on the ship or by the earth sockets present in the cradles. In addition, there are also innovative bilge and black water treatment plants on board. This, in order to ensure a more effective reduction of polluting emissions. Technologies that allow zero CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions, both in port and during entry and exit maneuvers. Iginia has obtained the certification "Green Plus ", the highest certificate in the field of sustainability, from the Italian Naval Register, confirming the commitment of FS Group for the environment.
The origins of the name
The name Iginia derives from the Greek term hyghieia or “prosperous, whole, healthy”. Figure from Greek mythology, daughter of Asclepius need Epione, in fact, she was revered as the goddess of health. In the Greek and Roman religion she was associated with the prevention of disease and the maintenance of well-being. She inherits the name from the previous Iginia, an Rfi ferry built in the Cantieri Navali del Tirreno and Riuniti in Ancona. The sister ship entered service on 1969 October 23 for the transport of railway trains, vehicles and passengers along the strait between Calabria and Sicily. The Iginia, twin, made the last race between Messina and Villa San Giovanni on 2013 December XNUMX.
