Author: Peter Oakley

The first Onshore Power Supply (OPS) system for ferries at the Port of Barcelona is located at the Grimaldi terminal, specifically at the Sant Bertran dock. Its entry into operation marks a milestone in the transformation of both the port and the city towards a greener future. In fact, the OPS can provide electricity 24/7 from 100% renewable sources to ferries linking the Catalan capital with the Balearic Islands and equipped with an HV Shore Connection. This allows them to shut down their engines and eliminate emissions and noise while docked.

The OPS installation is part of Nexigen, an ambitious €200 million plan for the electrification of the Port of Barcelona’s docks. The OPS was implemented in coordination with Grimaldi Logística España, ensuring that the various systems were designed to be compatible with the terminal’s daily operations. It combines a fixed installation, which adapts the frequency and voltage of the electrical current to the specific needs of each vessel, with a mobile system that enables connection without interfering with dock operations.

In parallel, the Grimaldi Group’s Spanish shipping company Trasmed has invested in making its ships compatible with the OPS. The system was inaugurated at the end of March by the ferry Ciudad de Palma. A retrofit has also been completed for the Ciudad de Sóller and is now awaiting imminent commissioning to verify the correct operation and compatibility of the connection system with the onshore facility.

From late 2025, adaptation work is planned to enable connection to the onshore power grid for the other two ferries operated by Trasmed, the Ciudad de Granada and Ciudad de Barcelona. In other words, all Trasmed ships will soon be able to turn off their auxiliary engines while docked and operate entirely on electricity supplied by ports equipped with OPS.

For the time being, the new system allows the connection of only one ship at the Sant Bertran dock, but the installation has been designed to be easily expandable, enabling the simultaneous connection of two vessels at the two berthing points. The ability to connect both ships operating on the Barcelona-Palma de Mallorca route daily will amplify the positive impact of the new system. By shutting down their engines while moored at the Port of Barcelona, these ferries will avoid emitting an average of 6.14 metric tons of CO₂ per stopover, amounting to an annual reduction of 2,090 metric tons of CO₂.

Given the significance of this innovation at the Port of Barcelona, it is no surprise that numerous stakeholders, including representatives from various public and private entities, participated in the inauguration event on 31 March. “It’s essential to understand the complexity of major infrastructure projects in the energy transition, in terms of both scale and the involvement of multiple actors,” stated the Minister of Territory of Catalonia, Silvia Paneque.”The Port of Barcelona deserves credit for its strategy, effort and commitment in developing the Energy Transition Plan, with the goal of becoming a zero-carbon-emission port by 2050 and a hub for the production and distribution of green energy.“

“This OPS is particularly important because it’s located in the terminal closest to the city,” emphasized the President of the Port of Barcelona, José Alberto Carbonell. “When we talk about decarbonizing port activities, we do so not only with the climate emergency in mind but also, and above all, thinking about the quality of life of the people who live around us. Today marks a major step in this direction, but it won’t be the last. The OPS at Grimaldi Terminal Barcelona allows us to continue with the Nexigen plan to improve air quality in the local area and make port activities more sustainable.“

This goal is now closer thanks to the commitment of the Grimaldi Group, which, as highlighted by Mario Massarotti, is currently the only company in the Port of Barcelona capable of operating in this terminal with zero emissions. “All Grimaldi Lines vessels operating between Italy and Spain have been equipped with batteries for several years and operate with zero emissions in ports,” recalled the Managing Director of Grimaldi Logística España. “The same commitment is shared by Trasmed, the Group’s company operating in the Balearic market, which has invested over €1.2 million to adapt its ships to the OPS system.“

Ultimately, as underlined by Pedro García Navarro, Director of Operations at Puertos del Estado, the success of this initiative at the Port of Barcelona is “the result of collaboration between the public and private sectors, […] a significant step for the national port system,” and “a model for ports, transport chains, and Spain’s energy transition.“

March 24th, 2025 –  with the aim of facilitating the transportation of life-saving aid for UNICEF’s humanitarian programmes in Africa.

The aim of the partnership is to improve the access to essential supplies for children and their families in UNICEF’s emergency conditions and development programmes.

The Grimaldi Group will provide free maritime transportation for at least 80 containers of UNICEF’s aid on the New York (U.S.) – Dakar (Senegal) route, contributing to the speed and efficiency of the distribution of essential supplies.

“UNICEF provides aid worldwide to children and families in need, with the aim of enabling them to live, grow and cope with shocks, and to rebuild their lives. Behind the supply delivery operation lies a significant coordination effort that enables us to be timely and effective” – said Carmela Pace, President of UNICEF Italy.“Therefore, I want to thank the Grimaldi Group for choosing to be on children’s side by supporting UNICEF in this important work of providing essential assistance for the implementation of our programmes.”

“The Grimaldi Group has always been committed to generating positive impacts in the communities where it operates. This commitment is not limited to providing efficient maritime transport and logistics services, but also extends to various social, cultural and environmental initiatives” – said Gian Luca Grimaldi, Chairman of Grimaldi Group S.p.A. “The partnership with UNICEF aligns perfectly with these activities. Through the provision of complimentary transportation for aid containers on our ships, we are pleased to extend our support to vital charitable activities benefiting children and families in need, contributing to the construction of a better future for them and their communities.”

The Grimaldi Group has secured funding from the European Commission for two new research and development projects under ZEWT – Zero Emission Waterborne Transport, a public-private co-programmed partnership between the European Commission and maritime transport sector stakeholders. The initiative aims to fully decarbonize waterborne transport by 2050 and is part of Horizon Europe, the European Union’s framework program for research and innovation.

The first project, TWINSHIP, will develop and test an innovative digital twin for three different types of vessels (ro-pax, ro-ro, and container ships), providing decision-making support to optimize energy efficiency and productivity. The system will be applicable to both existing ships and those under construction.

This digital decision-support system will offer insights into the best trim conditions during navigation and route optimization. Additionally, it can be used from shore to assist in the design of new vessels and the selection of the best innovative technologies for energy efficiency, not only for newly built vessels but also for those that are already operating.

The second project, HARPOONERS, aims to develop a laboratory demonstrator for innovative electrical energy storage solutions to enhance the efficiency of waterborne transport and contribute to its climate neutrality.

This project focuses on the application of new electrical storage technologies in the maritime sector. Specifically, it plans to: develop an innovative energy storage system for maritime applications, based on solid-state batteries, which are lightweight and have a high energy density; demonstrate the improved performance, efficiency, feasibility and reliability of solid-state batteries compared to traditional lithium batteries for maritime applications; and develop and validate advanced real-time battery condition monitoring systems with predictive analytics. The HARPOONERS team will also create a high-capacity energy storage system exceeding 1 MWh and conduct laboratory tests to verify its performance.

Both projects were launched in February 2025 and will have a duration of 36 months.

On the 14th March, the shipyard Jinling in Nanjing (China) delivered the Eco Napoli, the last of 14 ships in the Grimaldi Green 5th Generation (GG5G) class, which includes the world’s largest and most eco-friendly ro-ro units for short-sea shipping.

The Italian-flagged Eco Napoli has a length of 238 meters, a beam of 34 meters, a gross tonnage of 67,311 tonnes and a service speed of 20.8 knots. If compared to the units of the previous series of ro-ro vessels deployed by the Grimaldi Group for short sea routes, the new ship can accommodate double the load on her seven decks (two of which are hoistable): in fact, she can carry 7,800 linear meters of rolling freight, equivalent to around 500 trailers and 180 cars.

However, the increase in capacity does not affect fuel consumption, thanks to the adoption of numerous highly innovative technological solutions that optimize the ship’s fuel consumption and performance: in fact, at the same speed, the Eco Napoli consumes the same amount of fuel compared to the previous generation ro-ro ships and is therefore able to halve CO₂ emissions per unit transported.

The vessel is also equipped with state-of-the-art, electronically controlled engines and with an exhaust gas cleaning system for the reduction of sulphur and particulate emissions. Furthermore, during port stays, the Eco Napoli is capable of cutting emissions to zero by using the electricity stored in mega lithium batteries with a total power of 5 MWh, which are recharged during navigation thanks to shaft generators and 350 m² of solar panels.

“With the arrival of the Eco Napoli, the GG5G fleet is finally complete: fourteen hybrid ro-ro units, with a total value exceeding one billion dollars, which in recent years have revolutionized short-sea transport in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe,” stated Emanuele Grimaldi, Managing Director of the Naples-based group. “Thanks to their outstanding operational and environmental performance, and our continued investments in the routes we serve, we will continue to enhance our Motorways of the Sea offering more capacity, efficiency, and sustainability.”

The Eco Napoli is expected to arrive in the Mediterranean in early May, carrying approximately 7,800 linear meters of rolling cargo (cars, vans, trucks, agricultural machines, etc.). She will then be used to further strengthen the Grimaldi Group’s ro-ro connection between Gemlik, Ambarli, Patras, and Trieste.

The Grimaldi Group expands its network to India

The Grimaldi Group is continuing its global expansion by adding India to its maritime network. Starting this month, the company will be offering a regular service with two departures per month from Europe to the Indian subcontinent, further strengthening its presence in the Asian market.

The new route includes calls at key ports in Northern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula, with the following itinerary: Southampton – Antwerp – Bremerhaven – Setubal/Vigo – Mumbai. After reaching India, the ships will continue their journey to the Far East, calling at ports in Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and China. Additionally, the service will provide a monthly connection between India and major ports in the Persian Gulf, including Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

The first vessel to call at Mumbai on 20 February will be the PCTC (Pure Car & Truck Carrier) Grande California – a modern and versatile ship delivered less than four years ago, with transport capacity of approximately 7,800 CEU (Car Equivalent Units) or, alternatively, about 5,000 linear metres of rolling cargo of any type and around 2,800 CEU.

As part of its continuous expansion in the Asian market, the Grimaldi Group is also considering further strengthening its presence in India by adding calls at other strategic ports in the country.  

Contact your local Grimaldi sales office for rates and bookings.

Please note the update to the current Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.  The customs authority are reinforcing the provisions that mandate imported consignments to be cleared within 30 days after the completion of discharge.    Please read the below link and ensure that customers are aware of the change in emphasise pertaining to the enforcement of this part of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.

LAGOS-NEW-GUIDLINE-ON-DWELLING-TIME-FOR-OVERTIME-PDF

With this delivery, the G5 class of six state-of-the-art ro-ro multipurpose vessels is now complete. The ship will operate alongside a sister vessels on the Grimaldi’ Groups latest routing from China to West Africa & Brazil.

With the delivery of the Great Cotonou on 20 December at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd shipyard in Ulsan (South Korea), all six innovative G5-class ro-ro multipurpose vessels are now fully operational in the Grimaldi fleet.

With length of 250 metres, beam of 38 metres and deadweight of 45,684 tonnes, the design of the Great Cotonou and her sister vessels is the result of a careful study of the needs of the Group and its customers: thanks to an innovative and completely customized internal configuration, these ships are able to transport 4,700 linear metres of rolling freight, 2,500 CEU (Car Equivalent Units) and 2,000 TEU (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units). Compared to the previous G4-class, they have the same capacity for rolling freight while their container capacity is double.

The Great Cotonou like her sisters benefits from cutting-edge technological solutions designed to enhance energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact. Along side a reduction of up to 43% in CO₂ emissions per tonne transported compared to other Grimaldi ro-ro multipurpose vessels, she and her sisters are designed for cold ironing with shoreside supply of electricity (where available) as a green alternative to the consumption of fossil fuels during port stays.

The Great Cotonou maiden voyage inaugurated earlier in this month of January a brand-new Grimaldi Group route connecting China to Lagos (Nigeria) see below video. The ship will operate alongside a sister vessel, providing a service with an initial monthly frequency.

This new maritime link will allow the shipment of various types of rolling cargo (such as cars, vans, trucks, construction and agricultural machinery) and of containers from China with transhipment at the Grimaldi-owned PTML terminal in Lagos for delivery to the main ports in West Africa and Brazil.

Gian Luca Grimaldi, President of the Grimaldi Group S.p.A proudly stated.

“Today, we introduce two major innovations: the Great Cotonou, the sixth and final technological gem of the G5 class, and the new regular service that will enable the transport of rolling cargo and containers between China, West Africa, and Brazil. We are proud to offer our customers an increasingly extensive network of services that stand out for their high transport capacity and environmental sustainability, thanks to our increasingly young and cutting-edge fleet.”

An inspiring solidarity initiative is set to improve conditions in several schools in Ghana. Over 2,000 pieces of school furniture, donated by educational establishments in Palermo, will shortly be delivered thanks to a project promoted by the GIWA (Ghana Italian Women Association) in collaboration with the Department of Education of the Municipality of Palermo and with the crucial support of the Grimaldi Group, which offered free maritime transport to Africa.
The shipment includes five containers filled with essential school supplies: over 800 desks, nearly 1,300 chairs, along with blackboards, desks, lockers and other indispensable items for school activities. The containers departed from Palermo on 7 December aboard the Grimaldi Group’s ro-pax ship Catania, which sailed to Salerno. There, they were transferred onto the con-ro ship Grande Angola, which took them to Lagos, Nigeria. After a final transhipment onto the Grande Lagos, the cargo arrived at the port of Tema in Ghana on 10 January.

With its offering characterized by quality, capacity and sustainability, the Grimaldi Group continues to expand its presence in Turkey. The latest move is the addition of the port of Gemlik (Gemport) to the Trieste-Patras-Ambarli ro-ro route, with regular calls that started in mid-December last year. This expansion marks an important step not only for the new route but also for the group’s Motorways of the Sea, which now extend to the Asian side of the country.

The maritime link between Italy, Greece and Turkey is only recent yet it is already very successful. Launched in mid-September 2024 as a direct service for the transport of rolling cargo between Trieste and Ambarli (just a few kilometres from Istanbul), the route was enhanced in October with the addition of an intermediate call at the port of Patras. This not only established a direct connection between Greece and Turkey but also made links between these countries and Italy more comprehensive and efficient. The service now provides extensive coverage of both the north and south of Italy, thanks to destinations such as Bari and Venice, accessible through transhipment in Patras.

Located in Asian Turkey, in the heart of the country’s industrial area — particularly for the textile and automotive sectors — the port of Gemlik has strategically completed the ro-ro connection launched just a few months ago by the Italian group.

Two of Grimaldi’s eco-friendly flagship vessels, the Eco Malta and Eco Mediterranea, currently serve the Trieste-Patras-Ambarli-Gemlik route, calling at each port twice a week. Given the market’s positive response to the introduction and enhancement of this service, a third vessel may soon be added to meet the growing demand for cargo space and quality transport.

Read more about the GG5G class of eco-friendly vessels

HAVING MAINTAINED UK TRANSPORT RATES FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS, GRIMALDI WILL AFTER REVIEWING COSTS INTRODUCE A NEW UK CONTAINER TRANSPORT TARIFF EFFECTIVE AS OF THE 1ST JAN 2025.

THIS TARIFF WILL ALLOW FOR THE  MAINTAINANACE OF APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF SUPPORT IN WHAT IS STILL A CHALLENGING UK TRANSPORT MARKET

THIS WILL AFFECT ALL VALID QUOTES ALL PREVIOUSLY QUOTED TRANSPORT COSTS AND ANCILLARY CHARGES

PLEASE CALL YOUR LOCAL GRIMALDI COMMERCIAL OFFICE IF YOU REQUIRE FURTHER INFORMATION