Marine battery manufacturer AYK Energy has secured a contract to supply battery systems to nine next-generation ro-pax vessels being built for the Grimaldi Group, the Naples-based multinational logistics company.

Under the agreement, AYK Energy will provide its 2,073 kWh OrionAN marine battery systems to each vessel, bringing the total battery capacity across the fleet to 18,657 kWh.

The nine ships are being constructed at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Weihai, China, and are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2030. Six of the vessels will operate in the Mediterranean under the Grimaldi Lines and Minoan Lines brands, while the remaining three will be deployed by Finnlines in the Baltic Sea.

The vessels are designed to carry both rolling cargo and passengers and will be equipped with multi-fuel engines capable of running on methanol. Other features are said to include a modern hull design, high-efficiency propellers, shore power connectivity and waste heat recovery systems.

AYK Energy’s OrionAN batteries received DNV type approval last year, which AYK Energy founder Chris Kruger has described as a game changer for making marine battery technology more affordable.

Kruger said: “With high-profile deals with major players in the maritime world like Grimaldi, AYK continues to demonstrate how battery technology is evolving and becoming more powerful, more advanced and more competitive.”

“AYK’s battery solutions help shipping operators like Grimaldi improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and accelerate the transition toward more sustainable maritime transport,” he added.

Kruger also pointed to the commercial case for battery adoption: “We all want to see fewer emissions and green shipping. But batteries will only be part of the decarbonisation agenda if ship owners see the return on investment. There has to be a compelling business case. And that’s what the range of batteries that AYK can now offer is all about — the mass adoption of batteries that can pay for themselves within a matter of years.”

Grimaldi Group, founded in 1947, specialises in the operation of ro-ro ships, car carriers and ferries.