Grimaldi Group Orders Nine Methanol-Ready Ro-Pax Vessels from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard
Italian shipping group Grimaldi has placed a $1.3 billion order for nine methanol-ready Roll-On/Roll-Off Passenger (Ro-Pax) vessels with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai), as part of its fleet expansion and renewal strategy.
The shipbuilding contract, signed on April 8 in Hong Kong, includes six vessels to be operated under the Grimaldi Lines and Minoan Lines brands, and three vessels to be deployed by Finnlines.
Deployment by Flag and Brand
- Four vessels will sail under the Italian flag and operate under the Grimaldi Lines brand.
- Two ships, flagged in Greece, will be managed by the Greek subsidiary Minoan Lines.
These six sister ships form the Next Generation Med class and are slated for routes in the Mediterranean.
The remaining three vessels will be delivered to Finnlines, fly the Finnish flag, and introduce the Hansa Superstar class—an evolution of the existing Superstar series—targeted for Baltic Sea routes.
Green Technology and Net-Zero Commitment
Grimaldi stated that the vessels will be equipped with methanol-capable engines, supporting the company’s Net Zero Emission goals.
All ships are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2030 and will include:
- Optimized hull and propeller designs
- Energy-efficient onboard power management systems (for use both at sea and in port)
- Shore power readiness
- Silicon-based hull coatings, expected to reduce CO₂ emissions per cargo unit by more than 50% compared to current vessels on the same routes
Technical Specifications
Mediterranean Ro-Pax Vessels (Next Generation Med Class):
- Length: 229 meters
- Cargo Capacity: 3,300 lane meters + over 300 cars
- Passenger Capacity: Up to 2,500
- Fuel: First in the Mediterranean designed to run on methanol
Baltic Ro-Pax Vessels (Hansa Superstar Class):
- Length: 240 meters
- Cargo Capacity: 5,100 lane meters + 90 cars
- Passenger Capacity: Up to 1,100 in 320 cabins
- Design Basis: Adapted from Finnsirius and Finncanopus for the Finland-Germany route
Executive Remarks
“With the order of these nine extraordinary Ro-Pax vessels, we continue and strengthen our long, successful alliance with China Merchants Group, an outstanding partner for the building of cutting-edge ships,” said Emanuele Grimaldi, Managing Director of the Grimaldi Group.
“The new Next Generation Med and Hansa Superstar classes are the result of a thorough study of our customers’ needs and, more broadly, those of shipping. Today more than ever, the latter requires quality, efficiency, and environmental sustainability to remain a key mode of national and international freight and passenger transport.”
“In particular, the exceptional performance in CO₂ emission reduction and the use of methanol as an alternative fuel bring our Group even closer to the global goal of net-zero emissions, further solidifying our position as a leading player in short-sea transport in the Mediterranean and Baltic regions.”
