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Logistics group Grimaldi has decided that "it is not viable to retrofit existing ships to run on LNG", and instead will be combining the use of scrubbers with batteries in order to comply with upcoming sulphur cap regulations in 2020, Grimaldi's Head of Energy Saving & Innovation, Dario Bocchetti, has explained.

Bocchetti, whose department works on reducing fuel consumption and emissions across the whole Grimaldi fleet, argues that reliable infrastructure to supply gas and electricity is not available at all ports. So the company has plumped for scrubbers and batteries as its preferred option.

"Given the current situation of ships, ports, infrastructure and logistics, and given the type of ships in our fleet and the routes that they operate, scrubbers plus batteries are the winning solution for us. In fact, two of our super-large Grimaldi Lines ferries - Cruise Roma and Cruise Barcelona - will undergo extensive refitting work next January, including extensions and the installation of scrubbers and batteries," Bocchetti noted.

The Napoli-headquartered business, which specializes in the operation of roll-on/roll-off vessels, car carriers and ferries, is also looking at building ships powered solely by hydrogen, but only as a possibility for the future.

Bocchetti is responsible for the energy efficiency and innovation for more than 100 ships in the Grimaldi fleet.

Describing how the firm is constantly looking to optimise the energy consumption of its fleet, Bocchetti explained how six hybrid ro-ro vessels ordered from China's CSC Jinling Shipyard, for delivery from 2020, will be equipped with some cutting-edge technologies.

Among these are two-stroke, electronically controlled engines - offering lower consumption than four-stroke engines. Twin shaft lines and a combined rudder-propeller propulsion system will also help improve efficiency, and the hull will be optimised with a 'reverse bulb' design and a special low-friction silicon coating. Also, an air lubrication system under the keel will create a carpet of bubbles to reduce hydrodynamic resistance.

The new vessels will also be equipped with mega lithium batteries - described by Bocchetti as "the world's most powerful batteries ever to be installed on a ship".

Charged during navigation via shaft alternators and taking advantage of solar panels and a number of energy-saving devices while at sea, the batteries will be able to offer eight hours of zero-emissions power while the ships are in port.

The lithium batteries will also provide benefits during navigation through 'peak shaving' - i.e. maintaining a constant, efficient engine speed and using the batteries to make any necessary adjustments.

Grimaldi Group comprises seven main shipping companies, including Atlantic Container Line (ACL), Finnlines, Grimaldi Euromed, Grimaldi Deep Sea, Malta Motorways of the Sea (MMS) and Minoan Lines.

Last month, Finnlines ordered three hybrid ro-ro ships which will be fitted with scrubbers and a lithium-ion battery bank that can be recharged during sailing and provide the electricity to the ship while at berth.

Finnlines' EUR 70 million Energy Efficiency and Emission Reduction Investment Programme (EEERI) was launched last year; it aims to increase vessel capacity, improve efficiency and lower bunker costs via a vessel lengthening initiative.

EEERI followed the company's EUR 100 million Environmental Technology Investment Programme (ETI), which included the installation of exhaust gas scrubbers, investments in propulsion and reblading, and silicone anti-fouling, and which came to an end in April 2017.