Italian Ambassador Visits the Great Lagos in Amsterdam

On 15 June, the Italian Ambassador to the Netherlands, H.E. Augusto Massari, visited the Grimaldi Group’s ro-ro multipurpose vessel Great Lagos during her call at the Port of Amsterdam.

The Ambassador was welcomed by Ivan Tessitore, Managing Director of Grimaldi Netherlands, together with the ship’s Master Angelo Corrao and Paul Brink, Director at United Stevedores Amsterdam. During the visit, Ambassador Massari reiterated Italy’s commitment to supporting its companies abroad, also in light of the recent reform promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and aimed at strengthening economic diplomacy and support for the internationalization of Italian businesses. He also highlighted the increased role of the Embassy in assisting Italian operators in the Netherlands.

The visit provided an opportunity to highlight the strategic importance of Amsterdam as a logistics hub for Northern Europe, a role developed through more than three decades of the Grimaldi Group’s presence in the Netherlands. It also underscored the Group’s ongoing commitment to sustainable shipping, with particular attention given to the environmental performance of its G5-class vessels, including the Great Lagos herself as well as her five sister ships.

During his tour of the vessel, the Ambassador observed cargo operations, safety procedures and maintenance activities, gaining insight into the day-to-day operations through discussions with the Captain and crew. The visit also included the cargo decks, offering an overview of ro-ro and container activities as well as the main trade flows connecting Europe and West Africa.

Ambassador Massari described the Grimaldi Group as “a shining example of Italian entrepreneurship, with strong competitiveness, long-term vision, and a consistent focus on innovation and sustainability.”

The visit represented a valuable opportunity to further strengthen the relationship between Italian institutions and one of the leading operators in international shipping and logistics, while highlighting the Grimaldi Group’s major contribution to the global presence of Italian maritime transport.