Italian shipping company, Grimaldi Group, has recently delivered the ‘Great Lagos’ containership to the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd. in Ulsan, South Korea.
The new ship is named after the Nigerian city of Lagos, whose port has been handled by the Neapolitan shipping business for decades as part of its nautical ties between Europe, North and South America, and West Africa.
Furthermore, the Grimaldi Group now manages West Africa’s largest Ro-Ro multifunctional terminal there. The Great Lagos’ design, with a length of 250 metres, a beam of 38 metres, and a deadweight of 45,684 tonnes, is the outcome of a rigorous assessment of the group’s and its customers’ demands.
The G5-class ships are able to transport 4,700 linear metres of rolling freight, 2,500 CEU (Car Equivalent Units) and 2,000 TEU.
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Compared to the previous G4-class, the new vessels have the same capacity for rolling freight while their container capacity is double.
Aside from carrying capacity, the Great Lagos is notable for her several cutting-edge technical solutions targeted at enhancing energy efficiency and lowering environmental impact.
Both the main engine and the auxiliary diesel generators will achieve Tier III NOx norms, while the integrated propulsion system between rudder and propeller will minimise vortex losses, optimising propulsive performance and lowering fuel consumption.
As a green alternative to the usage of fossil fuels during port visits, the vessel is equipped for cold ironing with shoreside supply of power (where available).
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Furthermore, the electrical consumption of on-board machinery (pumps, fans, etc.) is reduced thanks to the installation of variable frequency drive devices, while the application of innovative, low friction paints reduces hull resistance, thus increasing efficiency.
Finally, the ship is equipped with hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems for the abatement of sulphur and particulate emissions.
According to Grimaldi Group, the Great Lagos enables a reduction of CO2 emissions per tonne transported of up to 43 per cent compared to other Grimaldi Con-Ro multipurpose ships.
The new vessel will be deployed later this month to improve the quality of the Grimaldi Group’s marine transport services between Northern Europe and West Africa. The additional four G5-class units, which will be delivered between 2023 and 2024, will follow the same itineraries.
Gian Luca Grimaldi, President of Grimaldi Group S.p.A., said: “Our G5-class of ships represents an innovative, efficient response to the demand for increasingly high quality and, at the same time, environmentally friendly maritime services.
“We have proven this in recent months with the deployment of the Great Antwerp – the first unit of this series – and it will be even more evident with the arrival of the Great Lagos and the other four sister units currently under construction.
“Our commitment and investments continue to generate tangible results and satisfaction in our customers, and step by step they bring us closer to the major, primary objective of the green transition of shipping.”
In July 2023, two firefighters lost their lives while battling a fierce fire that erupted on a cargo ship owned by Grimaldi Group.
