Grimaldi Group is expanding its “Motorways of the Sea” network in the Mediterranean with a new service dedicated to transporting rolling cargo between Italy and Türkiye.
A new direct connection between Trieste and Ambarli, just a few kilometers from Istanbul, will launch on 14 September, featuring two weekly departures from each port.
This new route will be operated by Eco Mediterranea and Eco Malta, the world’s most environmentally friendly ro-ro vessels. These hybrid ships, part of the innovative “GG5G” class, are capable of halving CO2 emissions per unit of transported cargo compared to older generations of ro-ro ships.
Additionally, their emissions drop to zero during port operations, as they utilize electricity stored in mega lithium batteries, recharged during navigation via shaft generators and 350 m² of solar panels installed on board, achieving the “Zero Emission in Port®” target.
The new direct Trieste-Ambarli route meets the growing demand for high-quality maritime transport services between Italy and Türkiye, particularly from leading automobile and industrial vehicle manufacturers such as BMW, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, DAF, Scania, Stellantis, Kia, and Hyundai.
Moreover, by integrating this service with other routes within the extensive Grimaldi network, Turkish companies can export their products to Spain, Greece, Malta, Tunisia, Morocco, and Northern European countries on the Baltic Sea.
“In particular, with our new Trieste-Ambarli regular ro-ro service, we will strengthen the connections between Italy — and, more broadly, Central Europe — and Turkey, supporting the growing trade relations between operators in these regions. To do this best, we will deploy the Eco Mediterranea and Eco Malta: these ships have extraordinary features that have revolutionized short-sea shipping. We are proud to enhance our offering for the transport of rolling cargo in the Mediterranean with a new service that will stand out for its efficiency and sustainability, in true Grimaldi style,” explained Emanuele Grimaldi, Grimaldi Group Managing Director.