(ANSA) - UDINE, 25 GIU - Fast ferry links between Trieste and the Istrian coast resumed today, with service running through Aug. 31. Liberty Lines said the route will connect Trieste with Piran, Poreč, Rovinj, and Mali Lošinj under a tender promoted by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. Last year, the service carried 18,000 passengers, 51% of whom came from abroad. The routes will be operated by the Sofia M, a fast monohull capable of carrying up to 181 passengers, Liberty Lines said. Dedicated bicycle spaces will also be available on board. The Trieste-Piran route takes less than 40 minutes. Fares start at 9.50 euros, with prices varying by route and discounted options available for families, young people, and passengers over 65. "The service - said regional Infrastructure Councilor Cristina Amirante -, confirms itself as one of the most effective tools for promoting sustainable mobility, cross-border tourism, and integration among the territories of the Upper Adriatic". The ferry links will operate six days a week, with service suspended on Tuesdays. Amirante added that "this service perfectly reflects Friuli Venezia Giulia's international vocation". She said maritime transport "encourages slower, more sustainable forms of tourism, strengthens cooperation among the shores of the Upper Adriatic, and enhances Trieste's strategic role as a regional and international maritime mobility hub". (ANSA).