Naples-based logistics company Grimaldi Group has taken delivery of the final energy-efficient multipurpose roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ship from HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) in South Korea. With this delivery, all six vessels in Grimaldi’s G5-class are now fully operational.
The vessel, named Great Cotonou, was handed over to Grimaldi on December 20, 2024.
Like its sister ships from G5 class , Great Cotonou boasts a length of 250 meters, a beam of 38 meters, a deadweight of 45,864 tonnes, and is able to transport 4,700 linear meters of rolling freight, 2,500 CEU and 2,000 TEU.
The newbuilds also feature technological solutions for increasing energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact, resulting in up to 43% CO2 emission reduction per tonne transported compared to other Grimaldi RoRo multipurpose vessels.
Great Cotonou is also designed for cold ironing with a shoreside supply of electricity (where available) as a green alternative to the consumption of fossil fuels during port stays.
In addition to completing Grimaldi’s G5 class, Great Cotonou will inaugurate the company’s brand-new route connecting China to Lagos, Nigeria, in January 2025. The ship will operate alongside a sister vessel, providing a service with an initial monthly frequency.
According to Grimaldi, this new maritime link will allow the shipment of various types of rolling cargo (such as cars, vans, trucks, construction and agricultural machinery) and containers from China with transshipment at the Grimaldi-owned PTML terminal in Lagos for delivery to the main ports in West Africa and Brazil.
“ 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 ,” stated Gian Luca Grimaldi , President of Grimaldi Group S.p.A.
“ 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 .”