The Grimaldi Group has announced that it will invest over 1.3 billion euros in Spain up to 2030. The main share of this investment is earmarked for construction of nine methanol-powered RoPax (freight and passenger) vessels. This advanced green technology will help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per unit transported by over 50% compared to current vessels.

Six of the nine vessels, in the Next Generation Med class, will operate in the Mediterranean, four of them under the Italian flag and operated by Grimaldi Lines, and the other two under the Greek flag and operated by its subsidiary Minoan Lines. The other three, in the Hansa Superstar class, will be assigned to routes in the Baltic Sea under the Finnish flag and operated by Finnlines. Deliveries are planned between 2028 and 2030.

Investments in sustainability
Sustainability is also part of the Grimaldi Group’s investment plan. The first connection of one of its ships, Trasmed’s Ciudad de Palma, to the port’s electricity grid during docking time was launched in Barcelona on 31 March. In addition to saving fuel and emissions (around 250,000 kilograms of CO₂ in its first two months of use), this eliminates noise and uses energy from renewable sources.

The group is currently planning to expand its capacity in the port of Barcelona, where it has already started construction of a vertical facility for 2,500 vehicles, which will be topped off with a solar power plant comprising over 1,700 solar panels. This will be located at the Poniente quay terminal, after the company has unified its terminals at the Sant Bertran, Poniente and Costa quays into a single concession. This integration will help optimise processes, increase operational efficiency and improve service to customers and logistics operators.

Infrastructure acquisition and development
Since purchasing assets from the Armas Trasmediterránea Group in 2021, Grimaldi has already invested over 1 billion euros in Spain, mainly in acquiring and developing infrastructure and in incorporating new ECO series ro-ro vessels to its fleet.

As Mario Massarotti, CEO of Grimaldi Logística España, pointed out, “These investments respond to the group’s strategy of consolidating its network of maritime connections between Spain and Italy, guaranteeing more efficient and competitive transport in line with the sustainability objectives of the port and the logistics community as a whole”.

Ports of Valencia and Bilbao
The group’s Spanish shipping company, Trasmed, has in addition  invested approximately 1.5 million euros in adapting two vessels for connection to the port’s electricity network during docking time. Grimaldi also operates two terminals in the port of Valencia, with one of these being carbon neutral and involved in innovative projects like H2Ports.

From Bilbao (Vizcaya) the company operates through the shipping company Finnlines, which is incorporating major innovations to expand its routes in Europe and offering new opportunities for efficient transport of goods. Its new Green Lane service will reduce emissions on its routes by up to 90% through two eco-friendly alternatives, electric propulsion and the use of biofuels, which will be added to the three methanol-powered vessels that form part of the investment announced in Spain.

^{Photo: Trasmed}