Innovating for climate neutrality
A report from the Grimaldi Group’s Euromed Convention XXVI. From 10-13 October 2024 the Euromed Convention XXVI, ‘From Land to Sea’, took place in Athens, organised by the Naples-based Grimaldi Group. The congregation brought together more than 800 leading players from the shipping, logistics and port operations sectors. Some of them took the opportunity to visit the port of Heraklion too.
This year’s event highlighted innovation as one of the key strategic factors to help achieve the goal of climate neutrality by 2050 and to promote the transition to zero-emission technologies. In his opening address Emanuele Grimaldi, managing director of the Grimaldi Group and chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), highlighted the importance of innovation in achieving net zero targets.
Under Grimaldi’s leadership the ICS has presented a proposal for a ‘Zero Emission Shipping Fund’ to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), with the aim of reducing cost differences between conventional and zero-emission fuels. The fund’s goal is to promote the use of clean technologies in shipping, to support the industry’s climate goals.
Expansion; and technological change
One of the central aspects of the Grimaldi Group’s climate strategy is the modernisation and rejuvenation of the line’s fleet. In the last two years seven new vessels have been put into service, all of which offer the corporation a great degree of energy efficiency and lower emissions.
In addition, 20 more vessels are under construction, including 17 pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs), which can transport both electric and conventional vehicles and can also use ammonia as a zero-emission fuel. The ‘ammonia-ready’ classification of these units will ensure that the fleet also meets climate targets in the long-term perspective.
In addition to its fleet modernisation the Grimaldi Group has also invested significantly in expanding its port operations in recent years. In Greece, the company acquired majority stakes in the ports of Igoumenitsa and Heraklion, in order to strengthen its logistics reach in the Mediterranean.
“Expanding terminal holdings; establishing new agencies.”
Some of the participants in the Athens congregation subsequently sailed for Crete, where they got an impression of the group’s work in the Heraklion gateway.
The company also recently expanded its strategic terminal holdings in Livorno and Amsterdam, in order to support its ongoing international expansion and integration into global logistics chains.
It has also established new agencies in Brindisi, Amsterdam and Shanghai; all this as a part of a comprehensive strategy to optimise the logistics value chain and thus increase efficiency.
Propagating enhanced cooperation
The Euromed Convention also offered a number of panel discussions on fundamental logistics topics. The first one highlighted the contribution of innovation to achieving net-zero emissions, emphasising the important role of technological advances for a more competitive and climate-friendly future.
The conference’s second panel discussed cooperation between public and private players in the Mediterranean region, and proceeded to address constructive approaches to modernising port infrastructure, to help promote efficiency and climate objectives.
The Euromed Convention XXVI made it clear how important international collaboration is for the transformation of the logistics industry. Exchange and cooperation between public institutions and private enterprise can help to jointly develop solutions that meet both ecological and economic requirements.
The Grimaldi Group’s sponsorship partnerships with firms such as Wärtsilä, Shell Marine and the Caim Group underline its commitment to the sustainable developments of logistics.