Author: Peter Oakley

With this delivery, the G5 class of six state-of-the-art ro-ro multipurpose vessels is now complete. The ship will operate alongside a sister vessels on the Grimaldi’ Groups latest routing from China to West Africa & Brazil.

With the delivery of the Great Cotonou on 20 December at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd shipyard in Ulsan (South Korea), all six innovative G5-class ro-ro multipurpose vessels are now fully operational in the Grimaldi fleet.

With length of 250 metres, beam of 38 metres and deadweight of 45,684 tonnes, the design of the Great Cotonou and her sister vessels 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, these 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, they have the same capacity for rolling freight while their container capacity is double.

The Great Cotonou like her sisters benefits from cutting-edge technological solutions designed to enhance energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact. Along side a reduction of up to 43% in CO₂ emissions per tonne transported compared to other Grimaldi ro-ro multipurpose vessels, she and her sisters are designed for cold ironing with shoreside supply of electricity (where available) as a green alternative to the consumption of fossil fuels during port stays.

The Great Cotonou maiden voyage inaugurated earlier in this month of January a brand-new Grimaldi Group route connecting China to Lagos (Nigeria) see below video. The ship will operate alongside a sister vessel, providing a service with an initial monthly frequency.

This new maritime link will allow the shipment of various types of rolling cargo (such as cars, vans, trucks, construction and agricultural machinery) and of containers from China with transhipment at the Grimaldi-owned PTML terminal in Lagos for delivery to the main ports in West Africa and Brazil.

Gian Luca Grimaldi, President of the Grimaldi Group S.p.A proudly stated.

“Today, we introduce two major innovations: the Great Cotonou, the sixth and final technological gem of the G5 class, and the new regular service that will enable the transport of rolling cargo and containers between China, West Africa, and Brazil. We are proud to offer our customers an increasingly extensive network of services that stand out for their high transport capacity and environmental sustainability, thanks to our increasingly young and cutting-edge fleet.”

An inspiring solidarity initiative is set to improve conditions in several schools in Ghana. Over 2,000 pieces of school furniture, donated by educational establishments in Palermo, will shortly be delivered thanks to a project promoted by the GIWA (Ghana Italian Women Association) in collaboration with the Department of Education of the Municipality of Palermo and with the crucial support of the Grimaldi Group, which offered free maritime transport to Africa.
The shipment includes five containers filled with essential school supplies: over 800 desks, nearly 1,300 chairs, along with blackboards, desks, lockers and other indispensable items for school activities. The containers departed from Palermo on 7 December aboard the Grimaldi Group’s ro-pax ship Catania, which sailed to Salerno. There, they were transferred onto the con-ro ship Grande Angola, which took them to Lagos, Nigeria. After a final transhipment onto the Grande Lagos, the cargo arrived at the port of Tema in Ghana on 10 January.

With its offering characterized by quality, capacity and sustainability, the Grimaldi Group continues to expand its presence in Turkey. The latest move is the addition of the port of Gemlik (Gemport) to the Trieste-Patras-Ambarli ro-ro route, with regular calls that started in mid-December last year. This expansion marks an important step not only for the new route but also for the group’s Motorways of the Sea, which now extend to the Asian side of the country.

The maritime link between Italy, Greece and Turkey is only recent yet it is already very successful. Launched in mid-September 2024 as a direct service for the transport of rolling cargo between Trieste and Ambarli (just a few kilometres from Istanbul), the route was enhanced in October with the addition of an intermediate call at the port of Patras. This not only established a direct connection between Greece and Turkey but also made links between these countries and Italy more comprehensive and efficient. The service now provides extensive coverage of both the north and south of Italy, thanks to destinations such as Bari and Venice, accessible through transhipment in Patras.

Located in Asian Turkey, in the heart of the country’s industrial area — particularly for the textile and automotive sectors — the port of Gemlik has strategically completed the ro-ro connection launched just a few months ago by the Italian group.

Two of Grimaldi’s eco-friendly flagship vessels, the Eco Malta and Eco Mediterranea, currently serve the Trieste-Patras-Ambarli-Gemlik route, calling at each port twice a week. Given the market’s positive response to the introduction and enhancement of this service, a third vessel may soon be added to meet the growing demand for cargo space and quality transport.

Read more about the GG5G class of eco-friendly vessels

Please find the 1st Quarter revised EU ETS levels, which have now been incorporated with the New Fuel EU surcharge.

The new Fuel EU Maritime legislation (EU Directive (EU) 2023/959) requires carriers to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2%.  Grimaldi will use alternative biofuels to meet our commitments under the new regulations.  Such fuels carry a premium which is reflected in our revised surcharge.  Both components will be monitored, and this new combined environmental surcharge will be updated quarterly.

Surcharge covers all voyages bound to / from Europe and for all cargo types;

The EU ETS & EU Fuel surcharges specified above will be in effect from Jan 1 to Mar 31, 2025.
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Charges are applicable on all Grimaldi trades and should be clarified before engaging in any bookings or quote offers to your shippers.

If you have any questions, please contact your local Grimaldi commercial office.

HAVING MAINTAINED UK TRANSPORT RATES FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS, GRIMALDI WILL AFTER REVIEWING COSTS INTRODUCE A NEW UK CONTAINER TRANSPORT TARIFF EFFECTIVE AS OF THE 1ST JAN 2025.

THIS TARIFF WILL ALLOW FOR THE  MAINTAINANACE OF APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF SUPPORT IN WHAT IS STILL A CHALLENGING UK TRANSPORT MARKET

THIS WILL AFFECT ALL VALID QUOTES ALL PREVIOUSLY QUOTED TRANSPORT COSTS AND ANCILLARY CHARGES

PLEASE CALL YOUR LOCAL GRIMALDI COMMERCIAL OFFICE IF YOU REQUIRE FURTHER INFORMATION

In line with Grimaldi Groups continued monitoring of the Bunker market, Grimaldi Lines confirm that BAF for containers on the W.African / Casablanca trade routes will decrease by the below amounts:

BAF will decrease by the following amounts on present levels set in all Container rates

To WAF

BAF ex UK ports: –              GBP 35 per teu

BAF ex European ports: –    EUR  30 per teu

To Casablanca

BAF ex UK ports: –             GBP 25 per teu

BAF ex European ports: –    EUR 20 per teu

Effective for all Container shipments from the 1^st January 2025

For further details of this and other rates offered by Grimaldi Agencies UK Ltd call on

Tel no.  020 7766 9480

Paraguay’s public transport electric revolution starts in Taiwan aboard the Grande Roma

On 7 December, 30 electric buses departed from the port of Taipei (Taiwan) aboard the Grimaldi Group vessel Grande Roma, their final destination being Asunción (Paraguay). This was no ordinary loading operation: it took place in the presence of Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chai Lung, Paraguay’s Ambassador to Taiwan Carlos Fleitas, and Wu Ting Fa, President of Master Bus, the Taiwan-based bus manufacturing company, as well as representatives of the local port authorities. All the guests were welcomed on board the Grande Roma by her Master Michele Iovine.

Why such interest? The departure from Taiwan of these 30 electric buses marks a milestone in the transformation and modernization of public transportation initiated by the Paraguayan Government. It also reflects the strong cooperation between Paraguay and Taiwan, as the buses were donated by the Taiwanese government.

The vehicles are due to arrive in January in Antwerp (Belgium), where they will be transhipped from the Grande Roma to another Grimaldi Group vessel to continue their journey to South America, specifically to the Uruguayan port of Montevideo.

Grimaldi are pleased and proud to announce the commencement as of January 2025 of a NEW monthly container service, this is a direct consequence of the success of Grimaldi Groups growing partnership with Chinese exporters.

The service will take advantage of Grimaldi’s new G5 CONRO tonnage with the first sailing expected to be the maiden voyage of the ‘Great Cotonou’ in early January.

Service routing will be based on direct loading from the Chinese port of Shanghai (Taicang) to Grimaldi’s fully owned and operated PTML facility in Lagos, Nigeria (27day transit) where containers can connect to other Grimaldi services, offering Tema, Abidjan, Douala, Dakar in WAF and Paranagua, Santos in SAM.

Equipment offered will be 20’ DV & O/tops, 40’ H/Cubes & O/tops.

No hazardous cargo will be accepted.

Please see the attached .pdf for details of our fast transits.

Please call on 0207 766 9420 to register your interest in this exciting new development for the Grimaldi Group or email respectively,

Westafrica@grimaldi.co.uk for WAF destinations

Southamerica@grimaldi.co.uk for SAM destinations

Chick here for China to WAFSAM Service details

The Grimaldi Group has significantly expanded its South American operations by introducing regular monthly calls in Colombia. August marked the maiden call of the Grande Abidjan in the port of Cartagena, signalling the addition of a new country to the company’s already extensive service network.

This development is part of the South America to North America service, which has been operational since the end of 2022. The service focuses primarily on the transport of cars and heavy vehicles, linking key markets across the continent. The mainstay of these new calls is the shipment of cars and high & heavy vehicles from Brazil to Colombia, and from Colombia to Mexico.

The standard service currently operates every 15 days, connecting Brazil (Paranaguá, Santos, Suape), Mexico (Veracruz, Altamira) and the USA (Freeport, Jacksonville, Baltimore). With the addition of Colombia, alternating vessels are operating monthly calls at Cartagena.

However, the Grimaldi Group is optimistic about the potential of Colombia with its over 50 million inhabitants and, if freight volumes grow as expected, the frequency of the Cartagena calls may be increased in 2025.

Starting from 14 September, the company will deploy two ro-ro vessels on the new regular service between Trieste and Ambarli (Istanbul), with two weekly departures from each port.

The extensive network of motorways of the sea offered by the Grimaldi Group in the Mediterranean is expanding with a new service dedicated to the transport of rolling cargo between Italy and Turkey: starting from 14 September, a new direct connection between Trieste and Ambarli, just a few kilometres from Istanbul, will be available, with two weekly departures from each port.

The new service will be operated by Eco Mediterranea and Eco Malta, the most environmentally friendly ro-ro vessels in the world. These hybrid ships, part of the innovative “GG5G” class, can effectively halve CO2 emissions per unit of transported cargo compared to the previous generation of ro-ro ships. In addition, emissions are cut to zero during port operations: when they are at berth, Eco Mediterranea 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.

In about 50 years of presence in Turkey, the Grimaldi Group has consistently expanded and enhanced its services dedicated to the country, connecting its main ports to the rest of the world through its extensive global network.

Today, with the new direct Trieste-Ambarli connection, the Grimaldi Group is responding to the growing demand for high-quality maritime transport services between Italy and Turkey from its clients, notably some of the world’s leading manufacturers of automobiles and industrial vehicles, such as BMW, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, DAF, Scania, Stellantis, Kia, and Hyundai.

In fact, the new direct line between Italy and Turkey represents a regular and reliable transport solution between two strategically located ports: Trieste serves as a natural gateway not only for Northeastern Italy but for all Central Europe, while Ambarli provides a privileged access point to the Istanbul area and the entire economic district of Turkey. Additionally, by combining the new service with other maritime connections within the vast Grimaldi network, Turkish companies can export their products to Spain, Greece, Malta, Tunisia, Morocco, and Northern European countries on the Baltic Sea.

“Our group is a pioneer in the motorways of the sea and reaffirms its position as the leading player in this market, with systematic and significant investments in the quality and quantity of services offered to our customers,” commented Grimaldi Group Managing Director Emanuele Grimaldi. “In particular, with our new Trieste-Ambarli regular ro-ro service, we will strengthen the connections between Italy — and, more broadly, Central Europe — and Turkey, supporting the growing trade relations between operators in these regions. To do this best, we will deploy the Eco Mediterranea and Eco Malta: these ships have extraordinary features that have revolutionized short-sea shipping. We are proud to enhance our offering for the transport of rolling cargo in the Mediterranean with a new service that will stand out for its efficiency and sustainability, in true Grimaldi style.”

The fifth of six units of the innovative “G5” class joins the fleet, offering greater capacity and sustainability between Northern Europe and West Africa. 

On the  29 August 2024 the Grimaldi Group took delivery of the fifth multipurpose ro-ro unit of the innovative “G5” class at the Hyundai Mipo dockyard Co. Ltd in Ulsan, South Korea.

Named Great Casablanca, the vessel further enhances the quality of maritime transport services provided by the Grimaldi Group between Northern Europe and West Africa, like her four sister ships already in service she has a length of 250 metres, beam of 38 metres and deadweight of 45,684 tonnes.

The design of the”G5″ vessels 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, these 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, they have the same capacity for rolling freight while their container capacity is double. In addition to loading capacity, the Great Casablanca stands out for her numerous cutting-edge technological solutions aimed at increasing energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact. The result is a significant reduction in CO2 emissions per tonne transported of up to 43% less compared to other Grimaldi con-ro multipurpose vessels.

“We are proud to present the Great Casablanca, a new technological gem that helps make our fleet younger and more efficient,” commented Grimaldi Group S.p.A. President Gian Luca Grimaldi. “Thanks to our investments, we can offer our customers regular services with high transport capacity while ensuring maximum respect for the environment.”

Starting from this October, the Great Casablanca join the regularly Grimaldi Group’s route connecting major ports in Northern Europe and in West Africa.