From Genoa to the Cinque Terre, with MAN: interview with Golfo Paradiso
We met Captain Franco Chiaschetti of Navigazione Golfo Paradiso, a historic Ligurian company that for nearly a century has been connecting the Tigullio Riviera and the eastern Genoese coast. A legacy of sea, passion and technology that today is steering decisively toward sustainability.
The interview
Q: Captain, Golfo Paradiso is a company deeply rooted in the Ligurian territory. Can you tell us how it was founded and how it has evolved over time?
A: The history of passenger maritime transport in Camogli dates back to 1932, when a modest but growing tourist demand prompted the first local ship owners to organise a regular transport service. In 1983, following the merger of the companies then operating in the area, Golfo Paradiso was officially established as we know it today. Our company now counts eight vessels, ranging from nine to twenty-seven metres in length, with a capacity of between 42 and 350 passengers. We operate year-round, covering the stretch from Genoa to the Cinque Terre with scheduled connections and day trips, and since 2010 we have also offered whale and dolphin watching excursions: an experience that has proven enormously popular with visitors.
Q: What are your forecasts for the current season? Are you expecting positive numbers despite the international landscape?
A: The international context remains complex, between the conflict in Ukraine and the tensions in the Middle East. Nevertheless, bookings and visitor interest are holding steady compared to last year. For this season we expect broadly stable figures, with total passenger numbers across our fleet projected at between 150,000 and 200,000. In the current climate, we already consider that an encouraging result.
Q: In your sector, how much does the choice of propulsion engines actually affect overall performance?
A: Engines are an absolutely central element of our business: service reliability, operational continuity and the economic sustainability of the entire season all depend on them. Our top priority is reliability: during the tourist season we must be able to guarantee a consistent and safe service to our passengers at all times. Equally important are the speed of technical assistance and the availability of spare parts, to keep any operational downtime to an absolute minimum. But there is another factor that is weighing more and more heavily today: fuel consumption. With diesel costs rising, partly as a consequence of international tensions, running efficient engines has become a strategic consideration for the entire sector.
Q: In 2025 you invested in a pair of MAN D 2862 LE 425 engines for the MN Sagitario, and in 2026 in two MAN D 2676 LE 494 units for the MN Paradiso I. What ultimately convinced you to choose MAN?
A: Our choice came down to essentially three reasons: competitive pricing, reliable technical support, and low fuel consumption. When evaluating an investment of this kind, you don’t just look at the purchase price; you consider the entire lifecycle of the engine. On all three counts, MAN delivered exactly what we were looking for.
Q: How many vessels in your fleet are currently fitted with MAN engines?
A: All six of our largest vessels are equipped with MAN engines. It is a choice that has consolidated over time, and one that speaks for itself.
Q: How would you describe your relationship with MAN — and in particular with your local partner Ranieri Tonissi — across the installation, commissioning and after-sales service phases?
A: Very good, we have nothing but positive things to say. Both on the technical side and throughout the operational phases, we received competent and attentive support. When you are working on vessels in active service, being able to count on a responsive and present point of contact truly makes a difference.
Q: In day-to-day operations, how important is it to have a MAN partner rooted in your local territory?
A: For us it is a significant added value. Knowing that rapid, competent support is available whenever a technical or operational need arises, especially during the tourist season, when every day of downtime means a service failure for hundreds of passengers, is a guarantee you simply cannot take for granted. Territorial proximity is not a minor detail: it is an essential operational condition.
Q: Looking ahead, what are the goals Golfo Paradiso has set for itself? And what role will sustainable propulsion play in reaching them?
A: Environmental regulations and sustainability targets are becoming increasingly central in our sector. In this context, having a partner like MAN, well-prepared and up to date on the latest green technology developments, represents a strategic asset for our future as well.
