The Grimaldi Group is set to elevate transport capacity and comfort on its Italy-Greece connections with the introduction of the Europalink vessel on the Brindisi-Igoumenitsa service starting 29 February.
As the ro-pax unit boasts the largest cargo capacity ever deployed in the Adriatic Sea, the Europalink will complement the modern ro-pax unit, the Kydon Palace, already operating on the line. This service enhancement means two regular daily departures from each port.
With an Italian flag, Europalink can accommodate 930 passengers and carry 3,900 linear meters of rolling freight, equivalent to 220 trucks. Compared to the Igoumenitsa, the ship it replaces on the line, the Europalink can host 20% more passengers and approximately 50% more trucks per voyage.
“Grimaldi strengthens the carriers and the carriers strengthen the port. A key formula for maritime economy, applied for 12 years in the port of Brindisi by the Neapolitan company which has never spared effort and commitment, increasingly implementing routes with effective, comfortable and eco-sustainable connections,” commented Ugo Patroni Griffi, chairman of the Port System Authority of the Southern Adriatic Sea (AdSPMAM).
In addition to the substantial increase in capacity, passengers and drivers will enjoy enhanced service quality. The Europalink features 201 cabins with a total of 632 beds, including various types such as inside, ocean-view, and junior suites, all equipped with air conditioning and en suite facilities, with some designed for passengers with reduced mobility. Passengers can also access two lounges with 75 comfortable reclining seats, a self-service restaurant, two bars, a spacious shop, a children’s play area, a sauna, and a slot machine area.
“The introduction of the Europalink on the twice-daily Brindisi-Igoumenitsa ro-pax line represents a new upgrade for an already effective and competitive service, which has become an essential bridge for truly efficient and sustainable transport between Italy and Greece in terms of both economic and environmental aspects”, declared Emanuele Grimaldi Grimaldi, managing director of Grimaldi Group.
The extensive network of motorways of the sea managed by the Grimaldi Group significantly broadens the accessibility of the Brindisi-Igoumenitsa route. Through transshipment at the Apulian port, trucks originating from Greece can seamlessly continue their journey by sea to Northern Italy or Sicily via the Ravenna-Brindisi-Catania ro-ro line, and vice versa.
Additionally, the Grimaldi Group operates on the Ancona-Igoumenitsa route for both freight and passenger transportation between Italy and Greece. For both this service and the Brindisi-Igoumenitsa connection, extra stops in Corfu are planned during the Easter period and the summer season. Along the Adriatic shores, the company also runs the Venice-Bari-Igoumenitsa-Patras service, exclusively dedicated to the transportation of rolling freight using the largest ro-ro vessels globally.
