Grimaldi-Naples Launches Ferry

On June 22, the cruise ferry Cruise Roma was launched at Fincantieri’s yard at Castellamare di Stabia for owners Grimaldi-Naples. Paola Grimaldi wife of the company president Guido Grimaldi was the ship’s godmother. Cruise Roma will be delivered at the beginning of 2008 and is the first of a series of 4 sister ships commissioned by Grimaldi-Naples Group at Fincantieri.

The vessels will be used to increase the Group’s Mediterranean services. Cruise Roma will be the largest and most modern of its type able to carry 3,000 lane metres of wheeled vehicles, 215 cars and 2,300 passengers at a maximum speed of 28 knots. Accomodation consists of 19 suites, 50 junior suites and 400 standard cabins.

The launch of Cruise Roma is part of a much larger and more ambitious program which involves an investment of $2.6b over the next 5 years including the construction of 30 new builds. By 2011 the Grimaldi-Naples Group fleet will be composed of 140 multi purpose ships including car carriers, ro-pax and cruise ferries.