Author: Peter Oakley

Grimaldi’s new “G5” vessel Great Lagos launched.

20 April 2023:  A ceremony was held at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd. in Ulsan (South Korea) for the launching of the 2nd of the Grimaldi Group’s new “G5” class ro-ro multipurpose vessels the Great Lagos, sister ship to the Great Antwerp

The second G5-class unit is named after the city of Lagos in Nigeria: its port has been served for decades by the Grimaldi Group, which operates there the largest multipurpose ro-ro terminal (PTML) in West Africa.

The Great Lagos has a length of 250 metres, a beam of 38 metres and deadweight of 45,684 tonnes. Her innovative design combines high loading capacity with great attention to environmental impact: all G5-class 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, the new vessels have the same capacity for rolling freight while their container capacity doubles.

In spite of her increased capacity, thanks to numerous cutting-edge, technological solutions aimed at increasing energy efficiency, the new vessel is able to reduce CO₂ emissions per tonne transported of up to 43% compared to other Grimaldi ro-ro multipurpose ships.

The Great Lagos launching ceremony was attended, among others, by Heung-Won Seo, Senior Executive Vice President of Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd., Guido Grimaldi, Deep Sea Commercial & Operations Director of the Grimaldi Group, various managers of the Korean shipyard and of the Neapolitan shipping company and representatives of the main customers with which the latter collaborates on its routes connecting Europe, West Africa, North and South America. The vessels godmother is Chafica Yamine, wife of Antonio Frangie, owner of Frangie Internationale Spedition GmbH.

After delivery, which is expected later this summer, the Great Lagos will be deployed on the Grimaldi Group service between Northern Europe and West Africa, further enhancing the services offered. The other five G5-class units – i.e. the Great Antwerp and the remaining four sister vessels to be delivered between 2023 and 2024 – will also be deployed on the same routes.

Tilbury welcomed Grimaldi’s newest recruit on the 10th June the ‘Great Antwerp’ on her maiden Deepsea West African voyage.
The Great Antwerp is the first of Grimaldi’s 6 new G5 series of multipurpose CONRO vessels and brings with her not only enhanced RORO capacity but a major increase in Container capacity.

The introduced over the coming 18 months of the 6 vessels will transform Grimaldi’s CEX service profile and maintain with berth developments the Groups premier position in the West African trade.

The G5 brings a wealth of cutting edge Green technology and maintains Grimaldi’s position as one of the leaders Green Shipping.

If you want to keep track of the Great Antwerp and her ‘Great’ future sister vessel’s then save the link to our weekly WAF schedule.

https://www.grimaldi.co.uk/sailing-schedule/

Dear valued customer,

Grimaldi have again been forced to implement a General Rate Increase (GRI) on our RoRo service to West Africa.

Global events and the general shortage of RORO tonnage are continuing to adversely impact operational expenditure, meaning that Grimaldi have no choice but to pass on some of these costs in order to maintain the high levels of service, frequency and capacity that is currently deployed to West Africa

Please note that the following rate increase (GRI) will be applied to all rates including those already quoted effective for units delivered on and after Monday 5th June 2023 (05/06/23).

UK rates will increase by the following amounts
Cars: Gbp £90 per unit

Vans rated per cbm, Gbp £6 per cbm
Small Vans rated as lumpsum: Gbp £90 per unit
Big Vans rated as lumpsum: Gbp £180 per unit

LM cargoes : Gbp £90 per LM

Similar increase will be applicable for rates ex N.Continent
For full details of how this will affect your bookings from the above date or clarification of the level of increase from European ports please call your local Grimaldi commercial office.

We have been informed that the Gambian Authorities (Ministry of Transport) have suspended the introduction of the CTN requirements until further notice.

Updated – 2nd June 2023

*****

Please be guided that effective as of the 15th May 2023, a Cargo Tracking Note has become mandatory for shipments of all cargo loading to or transiting The Gambia.

The Tracking note must be gained prior to loading from the Port of origin.
A Cargo Tracking Note as an Advance Cargo Declaration is with effect from 15 Day of May 2023, part of the documentation required for cargo clearance by GPA, GRA and any other mandated clearing authority. Consequently, each Container/RoRo/Bulk/Loose Cargo MUST have an ENS
Penalty charges of $5,000 to $25,000 are liable to any organization who fails to provide the correct CTN number.

Please note below;

– The CTN remains the shipper’s responsibility at all times. Grimaldi accept no liability in this matter.

– The CTN is to be declared on the Bills of lading & manifest. CTN should be provided at time of booking or no later than 24hrs prior to the time of sailing.

– CTN numbers amended for whatever reason after shipment will result in manifest amendments and charges.

Independent Waiver Service BV has been appointed by the Government of The Gambia, to act in this matter and is the ONLY authorized agent to validate the Entry Summary Number (ENS).

Contact details are below:
International Operations Office:
Email: info@waiver.nl
Website: www.waiver-service.com
(9 +31 10 760 07 48
Registered Office:
Donkervoortlaan 22
3261NE Oud-Beijerland
Phone: +31 10 760 07 48

Dear customer,

Due to changes in the cargo profile over the past few years, the POTL have come to the conclusion that the present structure of RORO THC’s no longer reflect the cost involved in the resources allocated to them, as such they have informed Grimaldi that as of the 1st January 2023 they will adopt a new set of recovery costs alongside a change in the berth receiving times, in order to continue to offer a balanced receiving service.

All RORO units arriving after the 1st January 2023 will be subject to the new THC tariff charges.

Please contact Grimaldi UK London 0207 766 9470 RORO sales for full details of the changes to THC charges.

Below are the new receiving times at EDC Yard, for RORO deliveries, effective after the 1st January 2023

Receiving hours – gates will be open 08:00-16:00 (Mon-Fri)

Vehicles/ RORO – last arrivals 15:30

Project cargo – By prior agreement with the Grimaldi / POTL

It is important to understand that EDC is a gated compound and will be worked only by a day shift which means that the gates and therefore the processing will close at 16:00hrs promptly.

We appreciate that the above receiving limits late deliveries, but statistical analysis by the POTL shows that few units now arrive after these hours and as such they reflect closer the actual general day to day cargo delivery flow.

Please note due to increased stringency in enforcing the requirements for CTNs for all cargo moving to / from Sierra Leone ports, based on the latest notice issued by LSS, and which is a mandatory requirement.

Grimaldi will not load any cargo without the provision of the CTN.
All CTN numbers MUST be provided by 16:00hrs on the respective Vessel closing / Cargo Cut-Off date.

We would suggest considering the possible delayed provision of CTN from LSS agents, you ensure that you have provided Blading information to our Documentation department 2 or 3 working days prior to the vessel closing date.

All costs resulting from the non-provision of the CTN by the above cut-off, remain for shipper/exporter account. Grimaldi accept no liability in this matter.

In case of queries, shippers/exporters can refer directly to LSS for more information.  ctn-slngs.com

Dear valued customer,

Grimaldi have again been forced to implement a General Rate Increase (GRI) on our RoRo service to West Africa.
Global events continuing to adversely impact operational expenditure, meaning that Grimaldi have no choice but to pass on some of these costs in order to maintain the high levels of service, frequency and capacity that is currently deployed.

Please note that the following rate increase (GRI) will be applied to all rates including those already quoted effective for units delivered on and after Monday 16th January 2023 (16/01/23).

UK rates will increase by the following amounts

Casablanca to Lagos range:
(Abidjan, Banjul, Casablanca, Conakry, Cotonou, Dakar, Freetown, Lomé, Monrovia, Nouakchott, Takoradi, Tema)

Cars: 30 GBP per unit
Vans rated per cbm, £2 per cbm
Small Vans: 30 GBP per unit
Big Vans: 65 GBP per unit
LM cargoes: 30 GBP per LM

Douala to Luanda range:
(Bata, Douala, Libreville, Luanda, Malabo, Pointe Noire)

Cars: 50 GBP per unit
Vans rated per cbm, £3 per cbm
Small Vans: 50 GBP per unit
Big Vans: 95 GBP per unit
LM cargoes: 50 GBP per LM

Similar increase will be applicable for rates ex N.Continent

For full details of how this will affect your bookings from the above date or clarification of the level of increase from European ports please call your local Grimaldi commercial office.

Grimaldi UK Agencies Ltd
020 7766 9420 WAF department general number
020 7766 9470 WAF department booking number

Due to worsening delays experienced at the port of Nouakchott, we are required to increase our congestion surcharge to the following amounts. Effective for all roro cargo delivered from the 12/12/22 onwards.

New levels will be.

Cars €150 / £130 GBP per unit
S Vans €165 / £140 GBP per unit
B Vans €240 / £205 GBP per unit
Trucks €155 / £135 GBP per Lm

The charge will be applicable for all deliveries from 11/23/22. Please ensure that you are fully aware of the rate you will be paying when delivering your cargo.

For further information please call : 0207 766 9470