Independent journal on economy and transport policy
11:38 GMT+1
Fincantieri to build five new vessels for Grimaldi Group
Aggregate value of the order is approximately 660 billion lira
December 27, 2000
Fincantieri Spa and the Grimaldi Group recently signed in Naples a contract to build 5 ro-ro/car carriers of approximately 25,000 gross tonnes each. .
This is a further development in the "Grande America" class, of which the fifth vessel, due for delivery in February 2001, is currently being fitted out at Fincantieri's shipyard in Palermo.
Distinctive features of this type of ships are: high operational flexibility, excellent technical reliability and safety standards in line with the strictest international regulations.
Main characteristics of the ships are: length between perpendiculars 195 metres, breadth 32.25 metres and a maximum height of 26 metres.
Construction of the ships will be surveyed by R.I.Na to comply with the highest class for this type of vessel and to meet, ahead of times, safety and anti-pollution regulations that will come into force in the next few years.
The vessels - which will be equipped with highly sophisticated automation systems - will have an eighyt cylinder two-stroke diesel engine with a power output of approximately 18,500 kW, 15% more than on previous vessels, which means it will be possible to reach a top speed of over 20 knots.
Optimal loading capacity will be 2,500 cars plus 2,500 linear metres for trailers as well as 850 container (TEUs) which will be loaded and unloaded by two forty tonne cranes.
The car parking areas will feature two hydraulically acted mobile decks. The ships have two thrusters to enhance manoeuvrability of 1,600 kW each; electrical power supply is by four generators run by diesel engines.
Fincantieri managing director and CEO, Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, has expressed great satisfaction for this new order which "confirms the competitiveness of the Italian shipbuilding industry even in the controversial, unfair scenario of the international market of merchant ships". "This is a further positive element - Guarguaglini remarked - in the framework of a challenge Fincantieri has taken up in order to give its shipyards a future".
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Fincantieri Spa and the Grimaldi Group recently signed in Naples a contract to build 5 ro-ro/car carriers of approximately 25,000 gross tonnes each. . 
- Via Raffaele Paolucci 17r/19r - 16129 Genoa - ITALY
