Grimaldi Group took the delivery of the MV Great Antwerp in South Korea’s Ulsan at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. This was marked with a ceremony.
The vessel is the first of the six new multipurpose ro-ro units to be commissioned by the Korean major in two years.
The vessel launches a new class dubbed the G5, which marks the transformation of the G4-class ro-ro multipurpose vessels developed by the same shipyard and successfully delivered to the Grimaldi Group in 2014 and 2015.
Following the success of five G3-class, 10 Eurocargo-class vessels, and six G4-class — all developed by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, the firm is set to inaugurate a brand new class of ro-ro multipurpose vessels dubbed the “G5”.
The new series of vessels respond more efficiently to demands for quality transport services on deep-sea channels and to the demands related to the safeguarding of the environment.
The firm is thus moving a step further within a path undertaken for years now, aiming at operating on main channels with a modern, eco-sustainable, and young fleet.
The G5-class vessels are capable of transporting about 4,700 linear meters of rolling freight, about 2,500 CEUs (Car Equivalent Units), and about 2,000 TEUs. When compared to the earlier G4-class, these new vessels bear the same capacity when it comes to rolling freight while container capacity doubles up.
The Great Antwerp measures about 250 meters in length and 38 meters in beam. It boasts a deadweight of 45,684 tons.
The vessel’s main engines, as well as the auxiliary diesel generators, are reportedly compliant with the NOx levels mentioned by the Tier III regulation. At the same time, the integrated propulsion system between the rudder and propeller reduces vortex losses, enhances propulsive efficiency, and lowers fuel consumption.
The vessel is specifically designed for cold ironing with a shore-side supply of electricity. Besides, the electrical consumption of the vessel’s onboard machinery (fans, pumps, etc.) is lowered.
Courtesy of the installation of variable frequency drive devices, the application of friction paints lowers hull resistance, increasing efficiency. The vessel has advanced systems for hybrid exhaust gas cleaning for the abatement of particulate and sulfur emissions.
Per Grimaldi, the Great Antwerp facilitates a significant reduction of CO2 emissions per ton transported by about 43% compared to the firm’s other ro-ro multipurpose vessels.
The G5-class units are expected to be delivered between 2023 and 2024 and then deployed on the Grimaldi Group’s maritime services between West Africa and Northern Europe.
Reference: Project Cargo Journal, Offshore Energy