As part of its fleet expansion and renewal program, Italian shipping company the Grimaldi Group has commissioned the construction of nine Ro-Pax ferries from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai), a company under the China Merchants Group.
The contract for the six vessels has a total estimated value of US$1.3 billion.
Grimaldi said the new ships will be designed to elevate the quality of maritime transport for both rolling cargo and passengers in the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea. All nine will be equipped with engines capable of running on methanol.
Four of the new vessels will sail under the Italian flag and will be operated under the Grimaldi Lines brand, while two, under the Greek flag, will be deployed by the Greek subsidiary Minoan Lines. These six sister ships will serve routes in the Mediterranean.
The other three ferries will be delivered to Finnlines and sail under the Finnish flag. These will be intended for routes in the Baltic Sea.
All nine ships are scheduled to be delivered between 2028 and 2030.
Each Grimaldi Lines ship will measure 229 metres long and will have space for 2,500 passengers, 300 cars, and up to 3,300 lane metres of additional rolling freight.
Passengers on each of the Grimaldi Lines ships will have access to numerous onboard amenities including three bars, a shopping area, a conference hall, two self-service restaurants, a panoramic à la carte restaurant, an indoor/outdoor lounge with a sun deck and two pools, and a rooftop bar.
Grimaldi said the interior design will be carefully curated, with separate customised furnishings for Grimaldi Lines and Minoan Lines vessels, each specifically catering to the tastes and specific needs of their respective target markets.
The three Finnlines ships will each measure 240 metres long and will have space for 1,100 passengers, 90 cars, and up to 5,100 lane metres of additional rolling freight.
The new design of the Finnlines ships is based on the company's Superstar-class vessels Finnsirius and Finncanopus but has been adapted for the Finland-Germany route.
Facilities on each of the Finnlines ships will include five bars and restaurants, a spa with a wide range of services and treatments, shops, and two children’s play areas designed for different age groups.