Grimaldi Group will deploy nine methanol-capable RoPax vessels across Europe, with the newbuilds set to enter service on Mediterranean and Baltic Sea routes between 2028 and 2030.
Six vessels will operate in the Mediterranean through Grimaldi Lines and Minoan Lines, while the remaining three will be deployed by Finnlines between Germany and Finland. The ships are being built at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai).
AYK Energy will supply a 2,073-kilowatt-hour marine battery system for each vessel. The ships will also be equipped with shore power connections to further reduce emissions while in port.
According to DNV, there are 145 methanol-capable vessels currently in operation worldwide, with 304 more on order for delivery by 2030. Of those, only 11 are RoPax vessels, highlighting the limited but growing adoption of methanol in the passenger ferry segment.
