2024 Newsletter week 42

At the XXVI Euromed Convention held in Athens, Greece, Grimaldi Group’s CEO, Emanuele Grimaldi, confirmed that by the end of 2024, an order is likely to be signed with a Chinese shipyard for nine new RoPax ships. This move aligns with the company’s strategy to modernise its fleet and support its sustainability goals by enhancing efficiency and reducing emissions.

Grimaldi specified that six ships will be for Grimaldi Euromed (four) and for Minoan Lines (two), ‘methanol ready’, with 3,300 lane metres, capacity for 2,500 passengers and 300 cars, along with 300 cabins.

The remaining three will be for Finnlines, biofuels/methanol ready, with 5,400 lane metres of garage space, capacity for 1,000 passengers, and 300 cabins.

As for their future deployments, the seasoned shipowner stated that the newbuildings for Finnlines (an evolution of the last two units delivered) will be introduced on the Travemünde-Helsinki route, while those for Minoan are expected to operate on the Piraeus-Heraklion link. The other four RoPax newbuildings for Grimaldi Euromed are likely to cover the Brindisi (or Ancona)-Igoumenitsa route in the Adriatic Sea, and the Livorno-Palermo or Naples-Palermo routes in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

It’s possible that two of these new ships will also serve routes to and from the Sardinia region.

The delivery date for the first units is expected in 2027.

Stena Line and Associated British Ports (ABP), have announced their intention to proceed with a £200+ million joint investment in a new freight ferry terminal at the Port of Immingham following the granting of the Development Consent Order (DCO) planning application by the UK Government.

In a major step forward for the project, this approval means that construction can officially begin on the new RoRo ferry terminal. Following the approval, the project was featured this week at the UK Government’s showcase International Investment Summit.

In 2022, Stena Line and ABP signed an agreement which will see the ferry company operate the new terminal for the next 50 years. This long-term commitment will provide a boost to the North-East of England, where the unaccompanied freight market has been steadily growing.

Immingham is becoming a strategic hub for Stena Line, which currently runs two daily services from the Humber region to The Netherlands.

Stena, the group which owns Stena Line, also recently became the sole owner of transport and logistics business, NTEX, which has its UK headquarters in the port.

With customer demand continuing to grow for the company in the region, Stena Line requires additional capacity to expand its operations at Immingham. The new RoRo terminal is a long-term solution in a new location which provides access to the main Humber Estuary, allowing for quicker sailing times and the option to use larger vessels to cater for increased freight demand from exporters and importers from across the region and the rest of the UK

CORSICA linea has made a major stride towards maritime decarbonisation by partnering with Spinergie to deploy AI-powered solutions. Since April 2024, the Voyage Optimiser has been assisting captains in making real-time decisions to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. This effort is part of a larger strategy to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030, backed by a €500 million investment plan.

A crucial aspect of this collaboration is the development of a real-time fleet centre, allowing CORSICA linea to continuously monitor ship performance. This system provides a comprehensive view of fleet energy efficiency, enhancing both operational and environmental outcomes.

By achieving a 4% reduction in fuel consumption per crossing and saving 10,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, CORSICA linea says it is on course to become the most modern and environmentally responsible maritime company in the Mediterranean.