Methanol ready RoPax vessel first for the Med

The agreement with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) covers both basic and detail design for the new “Next Generation Med” class. 

“These ships represent a major leap in ferry design, balancing commercial performance with a strong environmental commitment,” said a Deltamarin spokesperson.

“We’re proud to be at the forefront of this vessel build.”

Green innovation

These new vessels will operate under the Grimaldi Lines and Minoan Lines brands, serving key routes across the Mediterranean helping decarbonise the shipping routes.

As well as the alternative focus, further green innovation for the vessels will include shore power readiness, silicon-based hull coatings, optimised hydrodynamics, and advanced energy management systems.

These technologies will enable over 50% CO₂ emissions reduction per cargo unit compared to current vessels operating on similar routes.

At 229 metres in length, each RoPax ferry will carry up to 2,500 passengers and have room for 3,300 lane metres of rolling freight and over 300 passenger vehicles. It will also have 300 onboard cabins able to accommodate up to 1,200 guests.

Four ferries will sail under the Italian flag for Grimaldi Lines, while two will fly the Greek flag for Minoan Lines.

Design work on the vessels begins immediately, with deliveries scheduled from 2028 to 2030.