Morfimare has represented the maritime transport for over 130 years. Our story starts in 1882 when the Morfini & Figli (Morfini & Sons) is founded in Bari, handling the commercial traffic by sea. A long period of growth follows, until the turning point in 1942: Morfimare is created, dedicated to ferry and cruise services, with its headquarters in Bari and offices in the ports of Molfetta and Taranto. Ever since, our story has gone hand in hand with the development of the maritime, commercial and passenger traffic, working as a bridge mainly towards the eastern European countries, from Greece to the former Soviet republics.
We are the contact person and the port agents of countless Italian and foreign shipping lines – often exclusively – and year by year we increase our regular shipping services.
In 1960 we start operating as a travel agency and as international customs agents and we offer door to door services for the main destinations in eastern Europe.
In 1997 we are accredited as Exchange Office by the Bank of Italy.
And more recently we are at the centre of a wave of modernisation of the passenger transport: in 2005 with the departure of two new superferries, from Bari to Igoumenitsa and Patras (Greece), and in 2006 with the high-speed link between Bari and Durres (Albania), aboard the Saint Gwan catamaran (only three hours and a half, even with a car following), in partnership with Venezia Lines, leader company in the transport with fast units.
In 2010 we open our cargo department, through which all the transport companies can book ship spaces for their vehicles on over 300 shipping lines in Europe.
In order to offer a more complete range of additional services to the handling of the products, today we use customs and tax warehouses, and our customs department is specialised in every type of customs clearance operations.
In 2010, after undergoing with success the strict verifications provided for, Morfimare obtains by the Customs Agency the certificate of Authorised European Operator, trustworthy and safe, thanks to its appropriate standards and its prompt financial solvency.
In 2011 the Customs Administration also gave us the authorisation to carry out export customs operations with local clearance procedure, with considerable advantages for our clients.
In July 2015 we are nominated GNV agents for the regular line service between Bari and Durres and, in August of the same year, port agents for the Grimaldi Lines for the regular shortsea service between Venice/Ravenna/Bari/Patras.
TIMELINE
1882. Morfini & Figli (Morfini & Sons) is founded in Bari, handles the maritime commercial traffic.
1942. Morfimare for cruise and ferry services is created.
1943. It becomes Agent of the shipping company “Dani” of Genoa.
1946. Nominated General Agent in Puglia of the Soviet shipping companies both for cargo ships and as cruise service for passenger ships.
1962. Nominated General Agent in Italy of the “Prekookeanska Plovidba Bar”, the shipping company of the Republic of Montenegro.
1965. Start of the regular ferry service between Bari and Bar.
1966. General Agent in Puglia of the American Express Company.
1972. It is G.S.A. in Puglia for the Lufthansa Airline Company.
1977. First ferry line from Bari to Greece, as General Agent in Italy of the shipping company “Epirus Lines”.
1978. IATA (International Air Transport Association) Agent.
1990. General Agent in Italy of the Poseidon Lines Shipping Company.
1992. Line service between Bari and Albania with high-speed passenger craft (G.S.A. of the Adriatic Fast Ferries Companies).
1994. Increase of the service lines with Montenegro and Albania (for Transeuropa Lines). Port agent of the Anek Lines.
1997. Line service with the Turkish port of Cesme. The Bank of Italy gives authorisation to operate as Exchange Office.
1998. Regular line service between Bari and Haifa (Israel).
2002. Regular line service from Monfalcone to Bari to Patras (as port agent of the Maritime Way).
2005. Seasonal service from Ancona to Bar (Montenegro), as agent of the Montenegro Lines. New premises entirely dedicated to the travel sector in Piazza Mercantile, in the old town area of Bari.
2004. Regular line service between Bari and Durres.
2005. Daily service with two new Agoudimos Lines superferries between Bari and Igoumenitsa and Patras (Greece). Creation of the Tour Operator with destination Montenegro, an ever more popular tourist destination. Port agent of the Swan Hellenic Cruises.
2006. High-speed link between Bari and Durres (three hours and a half, even with a car following) aboard the catamaran Saint Gwann, in partnership with Venezia Lines, leader company in the transport with fast units.
2010. The cargo department opens, through which all the transport companies can book ship spaces for their vehicles on over 300 shipping lines in Europe. Attainment of the certificate of Authorised European Operator (AEO).
2011. Authorisation of the Customs Administration to carry out export customs operations with local clearance procedure.
2012. Palazzo Calò is born, the new accommodation option in Bari: ten different accommodations to satisfy every need and multiple services to guarantee every comfort.
2015. Nominated GNV agent for the new regular service between Bari and Durres.
2015. Nominated port agent of Grimaldi Lines for the new regular shortsea ro/ro line service connecting Venice-Ravenna-Bari-Patras.
2015. Nominated member for the network Mediterranean Yacht Agents.
2017. Starting as Terminal Operators – Terminal auto