Three Newbuilds for Grimaldi

The car carrier Grande Lagos, the seventh of a 10-vessel order, was launched on February 22 at the Croatian yard Uljanik at Pola for Italy’s Grimaldi-Naples. Grande Lagos, which will be delivered in May, is a 44,500 ton 198,40 m long ship with capacity for 5,400 cars or 456 trucks and 200 cars on 45,671 sq. m., and has a cruising speed of 20 knots. The other three vessels will be delivered at Uljanik for Grimaldi-Naples during the period from 2004 and 2006. On February 16 Grimaldi-Naples took delivery of Grande Buenos Aires at Fincantieri Ancona; the last of five sister ships ordered in December 2000. The ship of 56.000 tons is 214 m long with a beam of 32 m. It can carry 2,500 cars as well as 2,500 lane m and space for 850 teu. Grande Buenos Aires joins nine other Grande class vessels already in service on Grimaldi-Naples’ established lines Northern/Europe/West Africa and Northern Europe/South America. Grimaldi Prestige Ferries the Group’s new passenger and car trade name will inaugurate a new fast service from Civitavecchia to Barcelona three times a week and Civitavecchia to Golfo Aranci once a week with the ultra new RoPax Eurostar Roma a 24,000 ton ferry of 174 m and a cruising speed of 27 knots able to carry 1,400 passengers, 100 cars and 110 trailers. The ship offers a swimming pool, disco, cinema, shopping mall, restaurant and bar. The Civitavecchia/Barcelona crossing is covered in 18 hours and ‘’Eurostar Roma’’ joins ‘’Eurostar Salerno’’ and ‘’Eurostar Valencia’’ which went into service last year on the Salerno/Valencia, Salerno/Malta, Salerno/Palermo and Salerno/Tunis routes .