The Grimaldi Group’s largest Pure Car & Truck Carrier, “Grande Halifax”, made its maiden call at the Port of Savona on 28 February 2018.
It is the last of a series of three sister units delivered by the Chinese shipyards of Jinling in Nanjing in January. The vessel will join the “Grande Baltimora” and the “Grande New York” on the Mediterranean – North America weekly service operated by the shipping line.
The “Grande Halifax” is 199 metres long and 32 metres wide, has a gross tonnage of 63,000 and a cruising speed of 19 knots. Italian-flagged, the vessel is equipped to transport the full range of rolling cargo, including, cars, vans, trucks, tractors, buses, excavators, and to load freight shipments with a weight of up to 150 tons. From an environmental point of view, the “Grande Halifax” is a highly performing ship. She has been fitted with an electronically controlled Man Diesel & Turbo engine which complies with recent regulations on the reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions, and with a scrubber which reduces sulphur oxide emissions.
Grimaldi has earmarked a 7.5 million euro investment programme in the expansion and upgrading of the Savona Terminal Auto to reach an annual capacity of 250,000 vehicles. Works are expected to be completed in 12 to 14 months.
