With the “Eco Barcelona” ship, the Grimaldi Group reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and the environment by presenting in the port of Barcelona a ship that, thanks to its lithium batteries and 350 square meters of solar panels, will use electricity while it is docked in the port to achieve zero emissions goal in port
The ship “Eco Barcelona”, belonging to the Grimaldi Group, has called this Friday for the first time in the port of Barcelona. This vessel is one of 12 hybrid ro-ro units of the new Grimaldi Green 5th Generation class (GG5G). The ship will serve the Mediterranean between Italy and Spain, making regular stops at the ports of Barcelona, Valencia, Livorno and Savona.
The “Eco Barcelona” was received by the president of the port of Barcelona, Mercè Conesa, who presented the captain of the ship, Ciro Puzio, with the Metopa that commemorates his first stop in the port of the Catalan capital. The event was attended by the CEO of the Grimaldi Group in Spain, Mario Massarotti, and José Alberto Carbonell and Carla Salvadó, general director and general deputy director of Sales and Marketing of the port of Barcelona, respectively.
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The “Eco Barcelona”, which flies the Italian flag, is 238 meters long and 34 meters wide, has a gross tonnage of 67,311 tons and a cruising speed of 20.8 knots. It can transport 7,800 linear meters of wheeled goods, which is equivalent to about 500 trailers: compared to the previous class of ro-ro vessels used by the Grimaldi Group for short-range freight transport, the new unit can transport twice as much load while maintaining the same fuel consumption at the same speed.
The Italian Naval Registry (RINA) has awarded “Eco Barcelona” the Green Plus class, the highest level RINA certification in the field of environmental sustainability. The Green Plus recognizes the design solutions, on-board systems and operational procedures implemented, both during the construction phase and during the operational phase. All this, with the aim of improving environmental performance beyond the minimum levels required by international regulations.
The greenest ships
The GG5G class design was conceived by the Grimaldi Group’s Energy Saving and Technical Department in collaboration with the Danish naval design studio Knud E. Hansen. Highly innovative elements already partially patented and protected by copyright have been incorporated: the air lubrication system, which gives the ship the prestigious Air-Lub notation, certified by RINA; the optimized Rolls-Royce powertrain with innovative propellers; the integrated propulsion system between rudder and propeller (Promas Lite); the recovery of residual heat (waste heat recovery), and the application of silicone paints on the helmet.
The new GG5G class ships are equipped with state-of-the-art electronically controlled engines, and use fossil fuels in navigation and electricity while they are parked in port, guaranteeing Zero Emission in Port. During the stop at the dock, the energy needs of the activities on board can be satisfied thanks to the electricity stored by lithium batteries that are recharged during navigation thanks to the shaft generators and 350 square meters of solar panels. On board the GG5G ships, exhaust gas purification systems are also installed to reduce sulfur and particulate emissions.
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“At a particularly delicate time like the one we are living in,” said Mario Massarotti, CEO of the Grimaldi Group in Spain, “we are proud to present this new vessel which, together with the ‘Eco Valencia’, already in service and the ‘Eco Livorno ´, which will arrive soon, will improve our services between Spain and Northern Italy. Thanks to these investments we can offer more sustainable transport and strengthen our commitment to the port of Barcelona to achieve zero emissions in port ”.
“I thank the Port Authority, the port workers and our clients,” concludes Massarotti, “the confidence and strength they have transmitted to us to continue investing, both in the quality of the service and in reducing the environmental impact in the port and in the city of Barcelona ”.
Mercè Conesa, President of the Port of Barcelona, highlighted “the effort that Grimaldi Group is making to develop maritime transport in the Mediterranean that is sustainable and respectful of the environment. An objective shared by the port of Barcelona ”. And he has underlined that “the commissioning of these new warehouses, which double the capacity of the previous ones, improves the service to our clients and represents a determined commitment to offer sustainable and competitive logistics services, the best answer that the industry can give today maritime-port to our society ”.
The Grimaldi Group owns or manages 22 port terminals located in 12 countries around the world: Italy (Salerno, Monfalcone, Civitavecchia, Catania, Gioia Tauro, Savona, Palermo and Livorno), Spain (Barcelona, Valencia and Sagunto), Germany ( Hamburg), Sweden (Wallhamn), Finland (Turku and Helsinki), Denmark (Esbjerg), Ireland (Cork), Belgium (Antwerp), Egypt (Alessandria), Cameroon (Douala), Nigeria (Lagos), Benin (Cotonou). Some of these terminals are equipped with PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection center) warehouses and offices for handling new cars before delivery to dealers
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