The Grimaldi Group has begun designing two new generations of ships, one con-ro and one multipurpose, with the aim of making them the most flexible and environmentally advanced vessels in their respective segments. The announcement was made on 25 September 2026 by Emanuele Grimaldi, chief executive of the Naples-based shipping group, during his opening address at the 27th Euromed Convention From Land to Sea, being held at the Forte Village Resort in Pula, Sardinia. More than 700 representatives from shipping, logistics, port management, the automotive industry and finance are attending the event.
"Work is already at an advanced stage on two separate projects," Grimaldi said, adding that the group's research and development department is studying technical solutions for the new vessels. No details have yet been released on their dimensions or construction timetable. The picture is clearer for ships already delivered. Over the past 24 months, the group has taken delivery of 14 PCTCs, all carrying the Ammonia Ready class notation, certifying that they can be converted to ammonia propulsion in the future. By April 2027, the number of these vessels will rise to 17, with the most recent units offering capacity of 9,800 CEU. According to the chief executive, they combine high cargo capacity with "significantly lower fuel consumption per unit transported".
The most expensive part of the development plan concerns combined freight and passenger transport. The group has earmarked $1.5 billion, or about €1.3 billion, for the construction of nine ro-pax ships, which will join the fleet between 2028 and 2030. Compared with vessels currently operating on the same routes, they will halve CO2 emissions per unit of cargo. Their engines will be designed to run on methanol, allowing the ships to achieve net-zero emissions.
On the operational side, the past two years have seen an expansion of the network towards Asia, with 30 group vessels now operating scheduled services linking the Asian continent with all other regions. "Despite growing geopolitical tensions and the threat of increasingly widespread trade barriers, we have strengthened existing sailings to Europe and Africa, launched new routes to Latin America and Oceania and introduced a new service between China and the Philippines," Grimaldi said. The chief executive added that open markets and fair competition should be protected as engines of prosperity. Sardinia, the host region for this year's event, also featured prominently in his address. The group has been re-awarded the Naples-Cagliari-Palermo and Civitavecchia-Arbatax-Cagliari routes for a further five years under public service obligations. "For Sardinia, reliable and efficient maritime connections are absolutely vital," Grimaldi said, highlighting the role of these routes in freight transport, mobility for residents and tourist flows.
Following the opening session, the event continued with three round tables involving international experts in shipping, ports and logistics, focusing on decarbonisation, geopolitical scenarios in the Mediterranean and automotive logistics. The first, on shipping in transition, began with the IMO's targets, which call for emissions to be eliminated by 2050, with intermediate milestones in 2030 and 2040. Speakers identified three conditions needed to stay on this path: the development of new fuels, namely hydrogen, ammonia and methanol; staff training, including in the use of artificial intelligence; and a clear and stable regulatory framework.
The second panel addressed the geo-economic and geopolitical challenges facing maritime transport in the Mediterranean. Discussions focused on security threats in the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz, which are forcing a reassessment of transoceanic routes. The debate cited a 10 per cent decline in exports and a 4 per cent fall in crude oil imports from the Middle East as direct effects of the ongoing crises. For ports on the northern shore of the Mediterranean, this scenario requires extensive logistical and infrastructure adjustments.
The third panel focused on maritime vehicle transport, a sector undergoing major reconfiguration. Growth in electric vehicles and the arrival of new Asian manufacturers have changed traditional routes, shifting some flows towards South-East Asia. On board ships, the transport of lithium batteries requires continuous updates to safety procedures and technical equipment. To ensure reliable delivery times, speakers highlighted the need for closer integration between ships, terminals and road networks.
Antonio Illariuzzi
