Green light from the Antitrust for the acquisition of Toremar by Moby. However, the Authority bound the authorization to compliance with a series of measures which aim to increase competition on the routes to the Island of Elba. On the Piombino-Portoferraio section, the operation would in fact risk creating a dominant position in the maritime transport sector.
We need to "overcome the barriers to entry existing on the routes to the Island of Elba - explains the Antitrust - due to the limited number of landings and departures that can be made from the port of Piombino towards Elba and in particular towards Portoferraio". The purpose of the provision is "to ensure that both Moby and its competitors can offer passenger and vehicle transport services on the Piombino-Portoferraio route, particularly in the summer period, which are technically feasible and economically and commercially valid". The conditions imposed "do not affect the public service obligations guaranteed by Toremar".
According to the Authority, "the measures listed are adequate and proportionate to ensure competitive development in the markets for the transport of passengers and goods to and from Elba and to prevent a possible abuse of its dominant position by Moby". The share of slots (time slots in which it is possible to land and depart) assigned to Moby and Toremar will thus go from 80% to 66%, while that of Moby alone will go from 39% to around 24%.
