Grimaldi commissions second ’G5’ multi-purpose ConRo

Naples-based Grimaldi Group has taken delivery of the 45,684dwt Great Lagos, a multi-purpose vessel designed to carry containers, rolling freight, and cars. The vessel, built at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Ulsan, is the second of six sister ships that Grimaldi will deploy on services between North Europe and West Africa.

The 250m-long ships in the ‘G5’-class have been designed for cargo flexibility and energy efficiency. They have capacity for twice the number of containers compared with earlier vessels in the ‘G4’-class, and reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 43% per cargo unit compared with other ConRo ships in the company’s fleet.

The Great Lagos has capacity for 4,700m of rolling freight, 2,000 TEU, and 2,500 car equivalent units (CEU). It has an integrated propulsion system between the rudder and propeller to minimise vortex losses, optimises propulsive efficiency, and reduce fuel consumption, the company said.

Where available, the vessel can be connected to shore power systems, and electricity consumption on board has been reduced by installing variable-frequency drives. Low friction coatings reduce hull resistance, and the ship has a hybrid exhaust gas cleaning system.

Grimaldi Group S.p.A. president, Gianluca Grimaldi, said: "Our G5-class of ships represents an innovative, efficient response to the demand for increasingly high quality and, at the same time, environmentally friendly maritime services. We have proven this in recent months with the deployment of the Great Antwerp – the first unit of this series – and it will be even more evident with the arrival of the Great Lagos and the other four sister units currently under construction. Our commitment and investments continue to generate tangible results and satisfaction in our customers, and step by step, they bring us closer to the major, primary objective of the green transition of shipping."

The remaining four G5-class ships are due for delivery later this year and during 2024.