On September 14, 2024, Grimaldi inaugurated a new maritime service transporting semi-trailers from Trieste to the Turkish port of Ambarli, with two weekly departures. This service is carried out by the ro-ro vessels Eco Mediterranea and Eco Malta, part of the GG5G generation. By combining this new route with other connections in the Grimaldi network, Turkish companies can export their products to Spain, Greece, Malta, Tunisia, Morocco, and Northern European countries bordering the Baltic Sea.
With the introduction of this new route, Grimaldi enters into direct competition with other sector operators, particularly the Danish company DFDS and the Turkish firm Ulusoy. The addition of these two ro-ro ships necessitates an upgrade of intermodal equipment on the docks, which is being addressed with the acquisition of three terminal tractors. Grimaldi has placed an order with Kalmar, who will deliver the machines during the third quarter of 2024, soon after the order was placed. The shipping company is already using Kalmar tractors in other European terminals.
"We needed terminal tractors at very short notice to support our ro-ro operations on the Trieste-Istanbul route, and Kalmar was able to deliver quickly and efficiently," explained Fernando Marino, Senior Buyer at Grimaldi Group. Stefano Vero, Solution Sales Representative at Kalmar Italia, added, "Grimaldi Group is an important customer for Kalmar in Europe, so we are pleased to meet their urgent need for new equipment on such short notice. This order demonstrates our ability to respond swiftly to local customer demands when the need arises."
