Grande Africa News

The major new contract with Italian shipowner Grimaldi was won against stiff competition from several shipyards throughout Europe and cements A&P’s reputation for excellence and efficiency. It also marks a milestone in A&P’s 10-year partnership with Grimaldi, taking the total number of Grimaldi ships repaired by the A&P Group to 50, the majority of which have been in Falmouth. It will see A&P Falmouth constructing four huge rudders – weighing 42 tonnes each – for Grimaldi’s multipurpose container ships Grande San Paolo, Grande Buenos Aires, Grande Francia and Grande Nigeria.

The launching ceremony for the Grimaldi-Naples new RoRo occurred on September 6 at Fincantieri with Iliana Grimaldia, the wife of Emanuel Grimaldi the managing director of Grimaldi-Naples Group, serving as the vessel’s Godmother. Grande Amburgo is the fifth of a series consisting of Grande Europa, Gran Bretagna, Grande Mediterraneo and Grande Francia all of which were built at Fincantieri’s yard at Castellammare di Stabia. In little more than five years and in addition to Grande Amburgo, Grimaldi-Naples Group has ordered 12 ships from Fincantieri.