By
Alex Smith|
Grimaldi Group has ordered nine new ro-pax ferries from shipbuilder China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) for its Grimaldi Lines, Minoan Lines and Finnlines brands.
The agreement was signed in Hong Kong and is worth a total of $1.3 billion. All nine vessels will be equipped with methanol-ready engines in preparation to achieve Grimaldi Group's ‘Net Zero Emission’ goal.
Four of the vessels will sail under the Italian flag for the Grimaldi Lines brand, while two more will sail under the Greek flag for subsidiary Minoan Lines. These six sisters ships will belong to the Next Generation Med class and will sail routes in the Mediterranean.
The other three will be delivered to Finnlines and sail under the Finnish flag as the first of the Hansa Superstar class – an evolution of the existing Superstar series – on routes in the Baltic Sea.
All nine ships will be delivered between 2028 and 2030 and will be designed with features intended to improve sustainability. These will include optimised hull and propeller designs, energy-efficient onboard power management systems (both at sea and in port), shore power readiness and silicone-based hull coatings. Grimaldi Group estimates that these features will reduce carbon dioxide emissions per transported cargo unit by more than 50 per cent compared to vessels currently operating on the same routes.
At 229 metres long, the new Mediterranean ro-pax vessels will have a cargo capacity of 3,300 lane metres for rolling freight and over 300 cars. They can accommodate up to 2,500 passengers, offering more than 300 cabins (for a total of over 1,200 guests) and approximately 700 reclining seats.
Passengers will have access to onboard amenities including three bars, a shopping area, a conference hall, two self-service restaurants, a panoramic à la carte restaurant, an indoor/outdoor lounge with a sun deck featuring two pools, and a rooftop disco bar. The interior design will be adapted with separate customised furnishings for Grimaldi Lines and Minoan Lines vessels, each chosen to cater to the tastes and specific needs of their respective target markets.
The three newbuilds intended for the Baltic Sea will be 240 metres long, with a cargo capacity of 5,100 lane metres for rolling freight plus 90 cars, and accommodation in 320 cabins for up to 1,100 passengers. The new design is based on Finnlines’ Superstar-class vessels, Finnsirius and Finncanopus, but has been adapted for the Finland-Germany route. The new ships will be adapted to better suit longer crossings, feature new cabin categories and provide restaurant options tailored to different passenger preferences.
Facilities include five bars and restaurants, a spa with a range of services and treatments – including a Finnish sauna – shops, and two children’s play areas designed for different ages. The main bar at the bow of deck 12 will offer wide views of the Baltic Sea during the crossing.
“With the order of these nine extraordinary ro-pax vessels, we continue and strengthen our long, successful alliance with China Merchants Group,” said Emanuele Grimaldi, managing director of the Grimaldi Group and chairman of the board of directors of Finnlines. “The new Next Generation Med and Hansa Superstar classes are the result of a thorough study of our customers’ needs and, more broadly, those of shipping. Today more than ever, the latter requires quality, efficiency and environmental sustainability to remain a key mode of national and international freight and passenger transport. In particular, the exceptional performance in carbon dioxide emission reduction and the use of methanol as an alternative fuel bring our Group even closer to the global goal of net-zero emissions, further solidifying our position as a leading player in short-sea transport in the Mediterranean and Baltic regions.”
Wu Sichuan, chairman of China Merchant Industry, said: “China Merchants Industry Group and the Grimaldi Group have always been adhering to the concept of ‘innovation-driven, quality first’, making breakthroughs in green ship technology and intelligent shipping, and jointly defining a new benchmark in ro-pax vessels. As a leader in high-end equipment manufacturing in China, China Merchants Industry Group and CMI Weihai Shipyard will bring together a top R&D team, lean manufacturing system and full life cycle service system to ensure high-quality project delivery and help Grimaldi further consolidate its leading position in the European and global ro-ro shipping market."