The Eco Italia enters the Grimaldi fleet
This is the twelfth hybrid ro-ro ship belonging to the innovative GG5G
class. Two more sister vessels to be delivered by 2025
Naples, 28 October 2022: This morning the twelfth hybrid ro-ro ship of the Grimaldi
Green 5th Generation (GG5G) class was delivered from the Chinese
Jinling shipyard in Nanjing. Her name is Eco Italia and, like her
eleven sister vessels already deployed in the Mediterranean and Northern
Europe, she is one of the largest and most eco-friendly ro-ro units in the
world for short sea shipping.
The Eco Italia flies the Italian flag, has a
length of 238 meters, a beam of 34 meters, a gross tonnage of 67,311 tonnes and
a service speed of 20.8 knots. The loading capacity of her seven decks – two of
which are hoistable – is twice that of the previous class of short sea ro-ro
ships deployed by the Grimaldi Group: in fact, the vessel can carry some 7,800
linear meters of freight, equivalent to around 500 trailers and 180 cars.
However, the increase in capacity does not affect fuel
consumption, thanks to the adoption of numerous highly innovative technological
solutions that optimize the ship's operational and environmental performance:
in fact, at the same speed, the Eco
Italia consumes the same
amount of fuel compared to the previous generation ro-ro ships, and is
therefore able to halve CO2 emissions per unit transported.
The Eco Italia is
equipped with state-of-the-art, electronically controlled engines and with an
exhaust gas cleaning system for the reduction of sulphur and particulate
emissions. In addition, while at berth, the ship reaches the “Zero emission in
port” target: during port operations, the Eco Italia uses the electricity stored in mega lithium batteries
with a total power of 5 MWh; these are recharged during navigation thanks to
shaft generators and 350 m2 of solar panels.
"With their outstanding operational and
environmental performance, our 'Eco' ships are revolutionizing short sea
shipping in Europe", stated the Neapolitan group Managing Director Emanuele
Grimaldi. "We will continue to invest in this green revolution, as
recently confirmed with the order of two more GG5G-class units, to be delivered
by 2025".
Upon her arrival in Italy, scheduled for the end of
November, the Eco Italia will
be deployed in the motorways of the sea network operated by the Grimaldi Group
in the Western Mediterranean.