In the framework of the expansion and modernisation programme of its owned fleet, as anticipated in the last months, the Grimaldi Group has signed an agreement for the construction of six ro/ro vessels, for a total investment worth over $400m.

The order has been awarded to the Chinese shipyard Jinling, thus consolidating an important partnership with the Neapolitan Group, the world's leading company in the ro-ro sector.

The new vessels, whose delivery is expected as from 2020, will have a length of 238 metres, a beam of 34 metres and will have a gross tonnage of 64,000 tonnes. They will be able to transport over 7,800 linear meters of rolling units, equivalent to about 500 trailers. Their loading capacity will be double compared to the one of the largest ships currently operated by the Neapolitan group and triple compared to the previous generation of ro/ro ships. At the same speed they will consume the same quantity of fuel, meaning a 100% increase in efficiency when measured in terms of consumption/ton of freight transported.

The design of the new buildings, called Grimaldi Green 5th Generation, was developed by the Technical and Energy Saving Department of the Grimaldi Group together with the Nordic Engineering Design house Knud E. Hansen and it incorporates innovative elements partly already patented and protected by copyright.

These are the first examples of a new series of hybrid ro/ro vessels, which will use fossil fuel during navigation and electricity while in port, thus guaranteeing "zero emissions in port". The vessels will, in fact, be equipped with mega lithium batteries which will allow them to satisfy the energy requirements while at berth.

These batteries will be recharged during navigation, through shaft generators adding the so-called peak shaving system, and with the aid of 600m2 of solar panels.

The other main technical innovation of these ships is the air lubrication system under the keel creating bubble layers which will reduce friction and hydrodynamic resistance and consequently the emissions deriving from fuel consumption.

The vessels' hull will also be covered with special no-toxic silicon paints characterised by low surface roughness which will reduce friction with the sea and does not release any substances into the water.

As far as sulphur emissions are concerned, special on-board devices will combine the sulphur released by the propulsive cylinders with the salt contained in sea water, exploiting its natural chemical reaction, producing gypsum, which can be reused on the ground or disposed of in nature.

Three of the ships will be operated by Grimaldi Lines in the Mediterranean while the remaining three, which will be ice-class, will be purchased by the Group's sister company Finnlines and deployed in the Baltic Sea.

"Reducing fuel consumption and, consequently, cutting harmful emissions are categorical imperatives for our Group," proudly said president Gianluca Grimaldi who is at the helm of the Group together with the managing directors Emanuele Grimaldi and Diego Pacella. "It is the first time in the world that such powerful batteries, equivalent to those equipping 90 Tesla cars, will be installed on ships," continues Pacella. "We are proud that these exceptional technologies on board will make the GG5G hybrid ro/ro the most innovative and efficient vessels in the world," concludes Grimaldi.

The Grimaldi Group, Naples is represented in Malta by Sullivan Maritime Limited.