Record results for Grimaldi in 2021

By | 2022 Newsletter week 21 | No Comments

Given the current economic and political instability, and “despite upheavals and thanks to both the diversity of our fleet and markets served and the efforts of employees onshore and at sea” Grimaldi Group registered record results in 2021.

Consolidated turnover came in at EUR 3.46 billion, significantly up on the EUR 2.78 billion seen in 2020.

EBITDA came in at EUR 947 million, up from EUR 659 million the previous year, while equity increased to EUR 4.45 billion.

The Naples-based group informed that Trans-Atlantic operator ACL and the Grimaldi deep-sea services to West Africa and South America generated exceptionally good results amid high rates for the carriage of containers, in particular. But even the Grimaldi EuroMed services were successful, despite the microchip crisis and passenger transport limitations imposed by the pandemic.

Both Aegean operator Minoan Lines and Trasmed, the latter active on the Continental Spain-Balearic Islands routes, contributed to the 2021 EBITDA.

“Given, what is more, the very good result of the first quarter of this year, it is with positivity and confidence that we look to the future” Grimaldi also added. Specifying that by the end of 2024, the group will have taken delivery of another 14 newbuilds.

Grimaldi awarded thr line Civitavecchia-Arbatax-Cagliari

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Grimaldi Euromed has been awarded the subsidized line between Sardinia and Italy mainland, more specifically connecting the ports of Civitavecchia, Arbatax and Cagliari.

Ropax CATANIA has been operating the route for the last 6 months and will be deployed for the next 12 months.

The tender launched earlies this year from the Italy’s transport ministry was for a regular link to be served for 12 months with one ro-pax ship aged less than 30 years and capable of transporting no less than 600 passengers and 820 lane metres ro-ro cargo.

Tender price was fixed at EUR 13 million.

Grimaldi to open a new ropax link between the ports of Savona and Porto Torres

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A few days after the refusal expressed by the port of Genoa to handle passenger traffic to and from the Terminal San Giorgio, Grimaldi Group announced a new line between the ports of Savona and Porto Torres, in Sardinia, operated with the ferry ZEUS PALACE.

ZEUS PALACE is moving from the Patras-Ancona route.

It’s the first time for the Naples-based shipping line to operate a regular maritime transport service focused on passenger traffic as in the recent past the same route was covered but for roro only.

The new Savona-Porto Torres link will be effective from April 11th with three sailing per week soon to be upgraded to a daily frequency in July, August and until mid-September.

Intense Competition for the Privatisation of Three Greek Regional Ports

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Three ferry operators —Attica Group, ANEK and Grimaldi­— are expected to compete for the privatisation of the three ports: Igoumenitsa, Patras and Heraklion.

In brief:

  • Grimaldi Group controls Minoan Lines and seek to acquire a port in order to form a bridge between the Adriatic Sea services and Crete.
  • The Port Authority of Thessaloniki (PAT/Ivan Savvidis’ Group) is strongly interested in the port of Igoumenitsa, as it considers it of great importance for its strategic expansion and development.
  • Greek Ferry Operators seek to control either the port of Igoumenitsa or Patras in order to exert pressure on Grimaldi in Heraklion.
  • Grimaldi is interested in both ports (Heraklion, Igoumenitsa) and possibly will be interested in Patras as well. However, there will be a competition issue if they eventually control the port of Igoumenitsa.

Regarding the investors’ participating in the privatisation process for the three ports:

  • For the 67% of the Igoumenitsa Port Authority qualified Attica Group, Portek International, Quintana, Aegean Oil, Archirodon joint venture with ANEK and Trident Hellas, Grimaldi Euromed consortium with Minoan Lines and the Port Authority of Thessaloniki.
  • For the 67% of the Port of Heraklion, the deadline for the investors’ interest expires on September 17, 2021. Active interest has already expressed by Greek cruise companies, the Greek Group AVIAREPS (G. Grylos), Grimaldi Group, Attica Group, GEK TERNA and the Port Authority of Thessaloniki.
  • The tender process for the port of Patras has not started yet.

Source: Spyros Roussos and Kathimerini newspaper 25 August 2021

GNV and Grimaldi Holding Signed a Bareboat Charter for RoPax Vessels FORZA and TENACIA

By | 2021 Newsletter week 33 | No Comments
  • GNV and Grimaldi Holding signed a 3-year bareboat charter for FORZA and TENACIA.
  • Option 1+1 years
  • Both ferries have been operating 10 months for GNV, in sub-charter from Trasmediterranea.
  • Ferry Shipping News understands that, practically, it will be an extension of the current charters, even if this new agreement involves directly Grimaldi Holding and MSC-controlled GNV.
  • Daily rates for each bareboat charter should be around EUR 15,000 and there are no purchase options.
  • TENACIA and FORZA both have capacity of 2,000 lane meters and 1,000 passengers and are currently deployed on the routes linking Italy mainland to Sicily and Sardinia.

FERRY SHIPPING

By | 2021 Newsletter week 30 | No Comments

Grimaldi Adds Zeebrugge to its Belgium – Ireland Service

  • 2/w Belgium — Ireland (Cork) ­— Belgium
  • Week schedule: Antwerp-Zeebrugge-Cork-Zeebrugge-Cork-Zeebrugge-Antwerp
  • Ship: EUROCARGO BARI: 3,850 lane metres + 200 cars
  • Start of cooperation with P&O Ferries

At the beginning of May, Grimaldi started a twice-weekly roro service between Antwerp and Cork, with EUROCARGO BARI as route vessel.

Now, since Saturday 24 July, the ship calls twice a week in Zeebrugge, and once a week in Antwerp.

Zeebrugge was already connected with Cork, by the service from CLdN.

Interesting is the cooperation between Grimaldi and P&O Ferries.

In the port of Zeebrugge, the Grimaldi ship calls at the terminal of P&O Ferries.

The press release states that, “the cooperation with P&O Ferries will be extended to commercial activity as well.”

Tirrenia, Grimaldi And Grandi Navi Veloci Will Jointly Operate Civitavecchia – Olbia

By | 2021 Newsletter week 18 | No Comments

Three of the main players active on the local ferry market will cooperate to provide regular maritime links between Sardinia (Olbia) and mainland Italy (Civitavecchia) under the next maritime continuity scheme.

Following a dedicated tender launched earlier this year, the transport ministry accepted the proposal received by Tirrenia Cin, Grimaldi Group and Grandi Navi Veloci which decided to share the losses expected for the winter period (from October to May) but in change they will be the only three operators authorized to serve the same link during the summer season.

More specifically Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione (Moby group) will be the company which operates the route from October to May.

RoRo Capacity Continent – Ireland Continues To Increase

By | 2021 Newsletter week 18 | No Comments

Last week Grimaldi announced the start of an Antwerp – Cork roro feeder service.

Now CLdN says it will increase sailings between the Continent and Ireland, from eight to ten in each direction, on a weekly basis.

  • When: probably as from week 20
  • Routes: Zeebrugge / Rotterdam / Dublin
  • Ship 1: the 2,600 lane metre CADENA 3, currently being repaired in Rotterdam
  • Ship 2: a 4,000-lane-metre ship coming from the Med
  • Why: strong demand from customers + prepare the way for the introduction of further new builds arriving in Q4 2021 (LNG-powered)

Grimaldi Lines To Start Belgium – Ireland

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Grimaldi launches a twice-weekly feeder ro-ro service between Antwerp and Cork, as from the beginning of May.

Antwerp is Grimaldi’s main hub in the North of Europe.

Grimaldi Group has been operating in the Republic of Ireland for nearly 25 years with ConRo vessels, linking Cork to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean and, through transhipment in Antwerp to destinations in North and South America, West Africa and Russia.

Through its subsidiary Euromed Ireland Logistics Ltd (EMIL), the Grimaldi Group runs its fully equipped ro-ro/multipurpose terminal at Ringaskiddy (Cork).

The vessel deployed on the Antwerp-Cork service will be the Italian-flagged ro-ro unit EUROCARGO BARI (3,850 lane metres + 200 cars).

The Group plans to add capacity and frequency in the near future.