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Grimaldi introduces greenest ro-ro ships in world

[ July 14, 2023   //   ]

On June 26, the regular ro-ro line operated by the Grimaldi Group between Venice, Bari and Patras began to be served by two of the company’s “green giants”, the state-of-the-art hybrid vessels Eco Catania and Eco Malta.
Grimaldi, in synergy with the Port System Authorities of the Northern Adriatic Sea and of the Southern Adriatic Sea, as well as that of the Greek port of Patras, aims to enhance maritime intermodality between the two shores of the Adriatic through the use of ships which are among the largest and most eco-friendly in the world, with much higher capacity and better performances than the “Eurocargo” class ships that they will replace on the line.
In fact, each of the two “GG5G”-class ships can carry some 7,800 linear meters of freight, equivalent to around 500 trailers and 180 cars – twice as much as the previous class of short sea ro-ro ships deployed by the Grimaldi Group. However, this greater capacity does not increase fuel consumption thanks to the adoption of numerous highly innovative technological solutions that optimize the vessels’ operational and environmental performance: in fact, at the same speed, Eco Catania and Eco Malta consume the same amount of fuel as the previous generation ro-ro ships, meaning they can effectively halve CO2 emissions per unit transported.
In addition, emissions are cut to zero during port operations: when they are at berth, Eco Catania and Eco Malta use the electricity stored in mega lithium batteries which are recharged during navigation thanks to shaft generators and 350 m2 of solar panels installed on board, thus reaching the “Zero Emission in Port®” target.
“Having ships producing zero emission in port represents a key investment for the sustainable future of our seaports,” commented Ugo Patroni Griffi, President of the Port System Authority of the Southern Adriatic Sea. “Not only will this green evolution make us more competitive on the international market; it will also allow us to optimize the efficiency of port operations, reducing transit times and improving the overall productivity of the port.”
The ro-ro sector, which grew by over 11% in 2022 – a trend that has continued also in the first half of 2023 – is central to the development of the port system in the Veneto region. the new operational needs.”

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