Gemlik: Grimaldi Group's Motorways of the Sea expand to another Turkish port
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 transshipment 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.