Finnish ship designer Deltamarin has signed a contract with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) for six new methanol-compatible ro-pax vessels. Ordered by Grimaldi Group, the ferries will be built to the specs of the ‘Next Generation Med’ class and will cover Mediterranean routes serviced by the owner’s Grimaldi Lines and Minoan Lines subsidiaries.
Each newbuild will feature: a length of 229m; 3,300 lane metres for rolling freight; and the capacity for up to 2,500 passengers and 300 passenger vehicles. The design also includes more than 300 cabins to sleep at least 1,200 guests.
Deltamarin says: “The vessels will be powered by engines capable of running on methanol, making them the first ships in the Mediterranean designed specifically for this alternative fuel.” Additional green credentials will include advanced onboard power management systems, silicon-based hull coatings, shore power readiness, an optimised hullform and optimised propeller design. “These features will collectively reduce CO2 emissions per cargo unit by more than 50% compared to current vessels operating on similar routes,” Deltamarin claims.
Four of the six vessels will be operated by Grimaldi Lines under the Italian flag, while the remaining two will be operated by Minoan Lines and will sail under the Greek flag. The vessels will be delivered between 2028-2030.
