The Grimaldi Group and the Grimaldi Foundation support Valencia after the floods

In response to the devastating floods that struck Valencia at the end of October, the Grimaldi Group and the Grimaldi Foundation swiftly mobilized resources and personnel to support the people affected. The Group’s support has not only been in the form of maritime services provided by Grimaldi Lines and the Spanish subsidiary Trasmed, but also involved the solidarity of employees and local organizations. Numerous initiatives have been launched and promoted by the Grimaldi team in Valencia, which activated a network of solidarity comprising colleagues, customers, public entities, and associations. This commitment enabled the rapid collection of aid and its distribution in the areas most affected by the DANA (a Spanish acronym for high-altitude isolated depression).

The Grimaldi Foundation donated €100,000 to the Valencian Red Cross to provide essential assistance to thousands of people.

In collaboration with two local non-profits — Centro Social Bona Gent, supported by the Grimaldi Foundation since 2022, and Fundación ESYCU — a collection of essential goods was initiated. The “El Valle” schools in Alicante and Madrid contributed to this effort. Two trucks, provided by Trans Italia and Smet – long-time partners of the Neapolitan group – transported over 40 metric tons of goods to the Trasmed terminal in the Port of Valencia. Here, two containers provided by the Grimaldi Group are being used as storage and distribution centres. Since Saturday 16 November, volunteers have been distributing aid from this hub.

The same Trasmed terminal will also serve as the logistical centre for three truckloads of humanitarian aid collected and sent by Smet, with contributions from their Barcelona employees. These goods, expected to arrive in Valencia later this week, will also be managed and distributed by volunteers from Centro Social Bona Gent and Fundación ESYCU.

The Trasmed maritime terminal in Valencia has been made available to the local government as an operational base for firefighting teams and other emergency services. Meanwhile, at the Trasmed terminal in Barcelona, a collection and distribution point has been set up for essential goods sent from other areas of Spain (Barcelona, Alicante, Madrid) and from Italy.

Significant solidarity has also come from the Balearic Islands: to date, thanks to the joint efforts of Trasmed and various local NGOs (Mallorca Inca Solidaria, SOS Mamás, Moviment Mallorquinista), the shipping company has transported nearly 100 truck and vanloads of essential goods free of charge to the flood-affected areas on the mainland. Also, on November 21, a group of local chefs will board a Trasmed ferry in Palma de Mallorca and cook solidarity meals during the crossing. Upon arrival in Valencia, these meals will be delivered to an NGO or a soup kitchen.

In Italy, numerous volunteers from Avellino, Potenza and Salerno, along with SVIMAR (Association for the Development of Southern Italy’s Internal Areas), the Civic Federation of Southern Italy Associations, and the Lucanian Civil Protection Group, organized the shipment of six aid lorries. The vehicles, provided by Trans Italia, were transported free of charge aboard the Grimaldi vessel Finnsun, which arrived on 12 November at the port of Sagunto, only a few kilometres from Valencia.

Grimaldi Logistica España donated kitchen utensils and cleaning materials to the Ausiàs March school in Paiporta, one of the towns hardest hit by the floods, where over 5,000 meals are being served daily.

Grimaldi Group employees and partners are also contributing to relief efforts in Valencia through a fundraising campaign initiated by Grimaldi Logistica España’s Freight Commercial Director Francesco De Candia and managed by Centro Social Bona Gent. To date, €13,000 has been raised through private donations and contributions from regular customers like Intermodal Trasporti and Vif Fruit.

The same Grimaldi Logistica España executive also liaised with the Grimaldi Group and Simone Scanu, the owner of Vif Fruit and Sms, to respond to the needs of a family from Catarroja, who lost their cars in the floods. Scanu actually lent his own vehicle to the family in question and Grimaldi Lines transported it free of charge from Barcelona to Sagunto.