Grimaldi received the sixth and final G5-class vessel, Great Cotonou, at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea during late December 2024. The delivery marks the full operational status of all six G5-class Ro-Ro multipurpose vessels in the Grimaldi fleet.
The 250m-long Great Cotonou, along with its sister ships, boasts the ability to transport 4,700 linear metres of rolling freight, 2,500 CEU (car equivalent units), and 2,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units).
According to Grimaldi, these vessels maintain the same capacity for rolling freight as their G4-class predecessors, while doubling their container capacity.
Additionally, the company highlights a significant reduction in CO2 emissions – up to 43 per cent per tonne transported – thanks to the vessels’ cold ironing capability, which allows them to use shoreside electricity instead of fossil fuels during port stays.
In January 2025 Great Cotonou will debut a new route for Grimaldi Group, connecting China to Lagos, Nigeria. This ship will operate alongside a sister vessel, offering a monthly service. During the christening ceremony held at the South Korean shipyard on 17 December 2024, Gian Luca Grimaldi, President of Grimaldi Group SpA, expressed pride in the fleet’s expansion.
Photo by lappino/shipspotting.com
