Thanks to her innovative design, the result of a careful study of the needs of the Group and its customers, the new ro-ro multipurpose unit combines high loading capacity and environmental protection

The Grimaldi Group took delivery of the vessel Great Antwerp at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard  in Ulsan . This is the first of the six multipurpose ro-ro units commissioned from the Korean company just over two years ago. The vessel inaugurates a new class called “G5”, which is the evolution of the “G4” ro-ro multipurpose vessels built by the same shipyard and delivered to the Grimaldi Group in 2014 and 2015.

The Great Antwerp is named after the city of Antwerp in Belgium, whose port has been served by Grimaldi’s maritime links for decades and which now is the Group’s main hub in Northern Europe.

With length of 250 metres, beam of 38 metres and deadweight of 45,684 tonnes, the Great Antwerp’s design 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, the 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 addition to loading capacity, the Great Antwerp stands out on account of her numerous cutting-edge, technological solutions aimed at increasing energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact. Both the main engine and the auxiliary diesel generators will meet the NOx levels imposed by the Tier III regulation, while the integrated propulsion system between rudder and propeller will minimize vortex losses and, consequently, optimize propulsive efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.

The vessel is designed for cold ironing with shoreside supply of electricity (where available) as a green alternative to the consumption of fossil fuels during port stays. Furthermore, the electrical consumption of on-board machinery (pumps, fans, etc.) is reduced thanks to the installation of variable frequency drive devices, while the application of innovative, low friction paints reduces hull resistance, thus increasing efficiency. Last but not least, the ship is equipped with hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems for the abatement of sulphur and particulate emissions.

As proof of her high energy and environmental efficiency, the Great Antwerp enables a reduction of CO2 emissions per tonne transported of up to 43% compared to other Grimaldi ro-ro multipurpose ships.

The new vessel will be soon deployed to further enhance the quality of maritime transport services offered by the Grimaldi Group between Northern Europe and West Africa.

The delivery of the new ship was celebrated with a ceremony held this morning in Ulsan. The event was attended, among others, by Hyung-Kwan Kim, President and CEO 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, North and South America and West Africa.

Godmother of the new ship is Sévérine Hajjar, wife of Pierre Hajjar, CEO of Socar Shipping Agencies, one of the Grimaldi Group’s main customers for the transport of vehicles between Northern Europe and West Africa.

“The delivery of this ship marks the beginning of a new era for our Group”, said Guido Grimaldi. “After the success of our five G3-class, six G4-class, as well as 10 Eurocargo-class ships, all built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd, we now inaugurate a new class of ro-ro multipurpose vessels called ‘G5’. This new series of ships responds even more efficiently to the demand for quality transport services on deep sea routes, and to the needs related to the protection of the environment. We are thus taking a further important step within a path undertaken for several years now, aiming to operate on our main routes with a young, modern and eco-sustainable fleet.”

All the G5-class units will be delivered between 2023 and 2024 and deployed on the Grimaldi Group maritime services between Northern Europe and West Africa.