Finnish naval architecture firm Deltamarin has been awarded a design and engineering contract by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) for six new Ro-Pax vessels ordered by Italian shipping company the Grimaldi Group.
The agreement includes basic and detail design for the vessels, which will be deployed across Mediterranean routes under the Grimaldi Group's Grimaldi Lines and Minoan Lines brands.
Of the six vessels, four will sail under the Italian flag and will be operated under the Grimaldi Lines brand, while two will be registered under the Greek flag and operated by Grimaldi’s subsidiary Minoan Lines.
Each vessel will have a length of 229 metres, 3,300 lane metres for rolling freight, space for over 300 passenger vehicles, and capacity for up to 2,500 passengers. Accommodation will include more than 300 cabins for over 1,200 guests.
Deltamarin said the vessels will be powered by engines capable of running on methanol, making them the first ships in the Mediterranean designed specifically for operation on methanol fuel.
Other features will include silicon-based hull coatings, optimised hull and propeller designs, and advanced onboard power management systems.