NEWS 52 - Grimaldi
Transcription
NEWS 52 - Grimaldi
r i maldi GNEWS 52 Tariffa Regime Libero: Poste Italiane SpA - Spedizione in Abbonamento Postale - 70% - DCB Napoli QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE GRIMALDI GROUP october/ December 2010 • The legacy of Guido Grimaldi • Vp of Ec Kallas at AET • Delivery of Eurocargo Malta The legacy of an Entrepreneur Guido Grimaldi, an innovator at the helm of an unrivalled fleet G uido Grimaldi, founder and Chairman of the Grimaldi Group, was an extraordinary innovator and a formidable leader at the helm of a fleet that has expanded massively in the last 15 years, the number of ships having actually doubled in the last four years. Throughout his life he was always very receptive to new ideas in shipping and in the management of the complex set of activities associated with shipping companies. Though not directly involved in the finer points of their methods of operation, he always favoured the introduction of highly complex cutting-edge technologies pro- Guido Grimaldi receives in 1985 the Honour of Cavaliere del Lavoro, an Italian knighthood for his services to industry, from the then President Francesco Cossiga (centre) and the Minister of Industry Renato Altissimo (left). Guido Grimaldi the innovator. Guido Grimaldi died on 5 September this year after having worked all his life. He embarked on his long career at the age of 14 when he started attending nautical school and spending the other 6 months of the year embarked on ships and undertaking a range of increasingly demanding duties. 2 GNE WS vided they would really contribute to the development of the fleet and the business. It was his extraordinarily modern and farsighted vision that recognised the potential and future importance of Ro-Ro transport of trucks and trailers. He was the first to realise that, in the complex system of logistics, the direct business presence of the shipowner would increase volumes of traffic and also bring advantages to the customer, with control of majority of the operating cycle. As a result of this forward thinking, the Group now has its own port terminals and haulage contractors and also provides the main ancillary services enabling management of door-to-door transport for vehicle manufacturers. The Grimaldi Group has won recognition and a series of prestigious awards from some of the world’s leading auto manufacturers for the quality of its services. As for the Motorways of the Sea, once again Guido Grimaldi was quick not only to appreciate the huge potential of the idea, but also to invest a great deal of human resources and capital in it; notably, this included the construction of four exceptionally large cruise ferries which were also innovative in terms of their energy-saving and environmental compliance features. One of Guido Grimaldi’s undoubted qualities was his ability to consider other people’s points of view; he would always listen carefully to the suggestions of others, and especially the advice from his sons Gianluca and Emanuele and sonin-law Diego Pacella. The willingness to make way for the ideas of a new generation while you’re still in your prime working with great skill and passion – this too is a sign of a great innovator. Guido Grimaldi the entrepreneur. Guido Grimaldi was a brilliant entrepreneur. He used to say, “A great fleet is built Left: Guido with his sons Emanuele (standing on the left), Gianluca (centre) and his son-in-law Diego Pacella. Right: Clockwise, the m/vessel “Amelia Grimaldi”, named after the mother of Guido Grimaldi and sister of Achille Lauro. Built in Venice in 1960, this tanker was the biggest in Italy in thoses times. Guido with his uncle Achille Lauro. patiently, seizing market opportunities and recognising a good deal before other people, with courage, money and above all, putting your heart and soul into it.” When his uncle Achille Lauro, who was for many years one of the world’s most important private shipowners, helped him purchase his first vessel, one of the Liberty ships assigned by the United States to Italy to compensate owners for tonnage lost in World War II, probably not even he thought that that ship could be the foundation stone for a huge Group – which now comprises some eight shipping companies (4 Italian, 4 foreign) and over 100 vessels. At the start of the venture, in 1947, the outfit was small: Guido, his brothers Aldo, Mario and Ugo, and a few hundred seafarers. Today, there are 3,000 shoreside personnel and 5,000 shipboard employees. Guido Grimaldi assembled an excellent team of managers and executives that enabled the Group not only to come through the recent global economic unscathed, but to emerge even stronger, with more human resources and vessels than ever deployed on the world’s major trade routes. The Group today. The white “G” on a blue background forming the company flag now flies across four continents. In 2009 the ships of the Group carried around 2.7 million passengers, 2.5 million cars and over 1.3 million trailers, trucks and containers. Every week Grimaldi ships call at over 130 ports in the Mediterranean, the Baltic, Northern Europe, West Africa, North & South America, and the Near East thus contributing to the economic development of many countries. Tributes. “A true Renaissance man.” Among the many tributes paid to Guido Grimaldi this was one of the most indicative. Another commentator used a quote from Ernest Hemingway: “Some people never die. They leave a legacy that lives forever.” His friend Andy sent the following message to all the Group’s personnel: “We will do everything possible to ensure that he is always proud of all of us.” Tributes to the great man poured in from all over the world, with many remembrances of his exceptional generosity and other special and unique qualities. One person said he was “a man who could win without fighting.” The Mayors of Naples and Salerno and the Presidents of the Regional and Provincial Governments all expressed their condolences personally. The President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, wrote that Guido Grimaldi “played an important role in the Neapolitan economy and in the development of the country’s shipping companies; I also remember his work in Parliament during the Second Legislature.” GNE WS 3 Family and human values Guido, a generous man and a kind father W hat was Guido the private man like? “Southern Italy’s answer to Enrico Cuccia”, as he was sometimes called? Methodical, a solitary person of fixed habits? This description may be true to some extent, if we consider the great entrepreneur, but it’s well wide of the mark if we look at the man that emerges from the many anecdotes and stories told by his wife Paola and daughter Consuelo. And, though he always kept a low profile, Guido Grimaldi had a wonderful sense of humour; he once wrote a thank-you note to the Mattozzi Family, who owned the waterfront restaurant where he would always eat at lunchtime, phrased as follows: “Thanks for letting me survive for so long, over 50 years of patronage….” His laugh was infectious, he was a wonderful raconteur and all who knew him found Guido a very engaging person. Guido was a tough man, but gentle at the same time. He was a strict father, but only so as to prepare his children to deal with 4 GNE WS life. He had very high moral standards and was extremely altruistic, especially with regard to the less fortunate. He was a very learned man with a great love of art, history, archaeology and mythology. He had a great respect for nature and was something of an aesthete. “He had an eye for the women too,” says Paola with a smile. “Especially redheads; he used to say that between a portrait of a cardinal by Titian and a less valuable painting of a beautiful woman he’d choose the latter.” Though Consuelo quickly adds, “OK, but he always said that the best deal he ever did in his life was when he married Mum, not just because of her looks, but because she was well-read, did lots of voluntary and social work, and appreci- Above: Guido with his wife Paola and his five children: Consuelo, Cosimo, Gianluca, Amelia and Emanuele. Below: The wedding of Guido Grimaldi and Paola Arcidiacono back in 1954. Guido while visiting one of the vessels of the Group together with his son Emanuele and grandsons Mario and Guido Jr. Below: Guido with his wife Paola and his grandchildren. ated the importance of family life. In fact doned’ on her wedding day,” Paola jokes, self.” Mother and daughter are full of he let her decide when it came to bring- “but he did come back eventually. By then stories. “Dad was very absent-minded,” ing up the children, running the house it was late though, so we had to change Consuelo remembers, “and while he was and choosing friends.” plans and go to the Palazzo della Fonte driving he used to read the newspaper, The young Guido was under the spell of in Fiuggi where they knew us. When we eat ice creams, get distracted by goodhis uncle Achille Lauro and his larger- got there the receptionist eyed us sus- looking women and so on. Anyway, one than-life personality. He was the favour- piciously so Guido waved our marriage day, while he was out in his car he ran ite nephew and never failed to go and certificate at him and said, ‘I know what into a little old man. Luckily it wasn’t serigreet his uncle each morning. It was you were thinking!’ The family was the ous but my father went to see him at the actually through Achille that Guido met centre of the universe for him. He loved Pellegrini Hospital and this fellow’s wife Paola, since her parents were friends of children, not just his own, but all children said to Dad, ‘Mr Grimaldi, he’s the only the Neapolitan icon known as ‘O Coman- because they’re young and innocent.” husband I’ve got. Did you want to leave dante. It was love at first sight and when “In summer in Ischia,” Consuelo recalls, me on my own without even him?’ Dad they got married Guido’s best man was “you would find him on the beach digging thought this was very funny and ended his uncle Achille. By this time Guido was holes and making sandcastles, surround- up paying the old man handsomely in already a Monarchist Party MP. The wed- ed by dozens of kids. Children loved him. compensation.” ding reception was held at the Grand Ho- In the last few days before he died, his “He always believed you could and tel in Rome and, while friends and rela- face would only light up when Guidolino should find a solution to any problem. I tives were still celebrating, Uncle Achille came into his room – Guidolino is Ame- never ever heard him say, ‘I’m too tired’ forced the groom to leave the hotel so lia’s son and he’s the baby of the family. or ‘I can’t be bothered’. He was an optithat he could round up some other Mem- Guido was incredibly fit for his age; at mist by nature and I only saw him really bers of Parliament and canvass their sup- almost 80 he was still climbing fig trees upset once,” Paola adds affectionately. port in order to avoid a party split. “I don’t and could swim faster and further than “That was when Luca was kidnapped know any other woman who was ‘aban- Manuel, who’s a strong swimmer him- and we still had no word after paying the second instalment of the ransom. Guido thought they’d killed Luca. Thank God they hadn’t and it all turned out for the best.” “In the last few years of his life,” Paola concludes, “he developed something of a sweet tooth, but he didn’t like to admit it because he considered it a sign of weakness. And he also became a bit vain. After decades of blue and grey suits he discovered a liking for lighter colours, especially lavender-grey jackets after his children and friends told him that shade really suited him.” GNE WS 5 Xxxxxxxxxxx Editorial Time for Europe to act Contents 2 Guido Grimaldi, an innovator 4 A generous man and a kind father 7 “Grande Togo” christened, “Eurocargo Genova” delivered 8 Siim Kalls at AET 9 New era in Ancona‑Greece maritime links 10 New Livorno-Catania -Malta service launched Irish Minister of Defence visits the “Grande Senegal” 11 Grimaldi receives the Ford Q1 certification 12 Honda recognises ACL Beninese Minister visits the m/v Grande Benin 13 News 14 Agent List 15 Schedules - Mediterranean Short Sea Network - Finnlines (Baltic & North Sea) - Atlantic Network - ACL - Euro Med Network Gr imaldi NE WS Direttore Responsabile / Editor in Chief Luciano Bosso Progetto grafico /Graphic design Marco Di Lorenzo Pubblicazione trimestrale Quarterly publication Reg. Trib. Napoli n. 5150 del 26/9/2000 Stampa / Print: ROSSI srl - Nola (Napoli) Circulation 34,500 copies Printed on 1st October GRIMALDI GROUP 6 Via Marchese Campodisola, 13 GNE WS80133 NAPOLI (Italy) Grimaldi News can be seen on line on www.grimaldi.napoli.it I rresponsible shipowners have been a danger to life, limb and property ever since man first took to the sea in ships, but rarely can the dangers posed by the sub-standard owner and his sub-standard vessel have been so various or threatening as they are today. As world trade has expanded, so too has the world fleet. The boom that came before the crash provided an opportunity for fleet replacement and many far-sighted, responsible owners took the opportunity offered by surging profits to order new ships and despatch older vessels to the breakers’ yard. Yet many did not. Even now, the world’s oceans are full of vessels in excess of 30 years of age, or even 40, which is surely well past any reasonable retirement age. While the age of a ship may not correlate exactly with its quality, it is also true that, as vessels age, necessary maintenance becomes more critical and more costly. Some owners are simply not prepared for the investment, whether in money, time or organisation, that keeping their ship safe entails. And yet the need to focus on the structural integrity of the fleet has never been more acute. As shipowners, we have a responsibility to our crews, who trust us to maintain, at a very minimum, the standards of training and vessel quality required under international regulation. This need is pressing at a time when attracting bright young people to our industry is increasingly difficult. For those of us who carry passengers, there is a similar need to ensure we meet our customers’ expectation that our ships are state-of-the-art in every way. As citizens, we also have a responsibility to the marine environment, and to the children and grandchildren who will inherit the seas we leave behind. Of all the transport modes, shipping may be the most environmentally friendly, but that does not mean we have done all that we can do. As we debate new emissions standards and work to develop and implement energy efficiencies both onboard and ashore, the continuing employment of old, sub-standard tonnage is both an affront to those of us fighting to make a difference, and paying the cost, and a blow to our chances of reducing shipping’s impact on the environment. At Grimaldi, we have been fighting the good fight for some time, working to cut energy use across the company, collaborating on research projects to develop new, environmentally beneficial technologies, and ordering state-of-the-art new ships to replace older vessels. As a result, the 87 ships in the Grimaldi fleet have an average age of just 9.3 years, below the average age of the european (about ten years) and world fleet (12 years). With 21 ships delivered over the last five years and 17 more to come, that will drop further, improving the company’s performance and reinforcing its reputation as a careful steward of our customers, our seafarers and the environment in which we operate. Yet there is only so much that we and other responsible shipowners and operators can do to make a difference if others continue to operate old and sub-standard tonnage with impunity. That is why we are calling for European regulation that would mandate the scrapping of all vessels over 30 years of age, effectively driving them from our ports and waters. Such regulation, strictly enforced with the assistance of classification societies, flag states and port states, will not only improve standards of safety and remove a significant threat to the environment but help rebalance markets in which the supply of ships far outstrips demand, endangering the economic survival of many sound companies. The benefits of such a policy are many, the down side negligible. The time to act is now. Fleet development “Grande Togo” christened, “Eurocargo Genova” delivered I n the last few months the newbuilding The vessel will be deployed on the West programme of the Grimaldi Group Africa route, on the Southern Express has seen the launch of a new vessel Service, linking North Europe to the and the delivery of another one. In fact, ports of Casablanca, Dakar, Lome, Luon the 1st of August the “Grande Togo” anda, Lobito, Douala and Abidjan. was launched at the Uljanik shipyard The “Eurocargo Malta”, sistership of the (Croatia) while the “Eurocargo Malta” “Eurocargo Genova”, was delivered on was delivered on the 24th of the same the 24th of August and is the second of month from the Korean shipyard of Hy- eight units ordered from the Korean shipyard of Hyunday Mipo in Ulsan. undai Mipo in Ulsan. The launching of the ro/ro-container Measuring 200 metres long, 26.5 mevessel “Grande Togo” was held at the tres wide and with a gross tonnage of Scoglio Olivi shipyard, and the Godmother of the vessel was young Nina Sebastijan, a 2nd year student of the primary school of Monteparadiso. The “Grande Togo”, the sixth of a series of seven units commissioned by the Group, has a gross tonnage of 26,650 tonnes, a length of 210 metres, a width of 32 metres and a height of 21.5 metres. Thanks to her 12 decks, two of which are hoistable, she is able to transport 3,890 cars and 1,360 containers at a maximum speed of 21.9 knots. 32,644 tonnes, she can transport 3,900 linear metres of rolling cargo (cars, vans, trucks, trailers, etc.) at a service speed of 23 knots. The “Eurocargo Malta” is classified by the Italian Ship Classification society (RINA) and has a ramp capable of loading up to 120 tonnes. The vessel has ten decks, two of which are hoistable. She joined the “Eurocargo Genova” on the short sea route linking the port of Genoa to Livorno, Catania and Malta. GNE WS 7 Events Siim Kalls at AET The Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Transport visited the Group’s terminal in Antwerp in September O n the 13th of September the Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas visited Antwerp Euroterminal (AET) with a delegation comprised of Etienne Schouppe, Belgian Secretary of State for Transport, Frans van Rompuy, Director General of the Belgian Ministry of Transport, Eddy Bruyninckx, Managing Director of the Antwerp Port Authority, Alfons Guinier, Secretary General of ECSA (European Community Shipowners' Associations), Patrick Verhoeven, Secretary General of ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation) and various officials from DG Move. The Commissioner and his delegation were received by Emanuele Grimaldi, co-managing director of the Grimaldi Group, Marc Ivens, managing director 8 GNE WS of AET and Mexiconatie (shareholder together with the Grimaldi Group in Antwerp Euroterminal) and by Francesco Costa, Chef Operations Officers of AET. A short tour of the facilities was organised, illustrating the logistics and multimodal operations at the terminal, particularly the connection between the terminal and the European road, rail and inland waterways network. The tour was followed by a visit and cocktail party held onboard the Pure Car & Truck Carrier Grande Colonia, currently deployed by the Grimaldi Group on the Euro Aegean Service, linking North Europe to various Mediterranean ports. Currently, AET manages a terminal on the Left Bank of the port of Antwerp with a surface of one million m2, a quay length of 1,600 metres and storage facilities for any type of rolling equipment, containers and unitised general cargo. Today, the terminal is being used as a hub by the various ro/ro-container services of the Grimaldi Group to the Mediterranean, West Africa and South America as well as by Finnlines (a Grimaldi Group company) for their services to Spain and the Baltic Sea. Top: From left to right: Siim Kallas, Emanuele Grimaldi and Etienne Schouppe. Below left: Siim Kallas while visiting the m/ vessel Grande Colonia accompanied by Emanuele Grimaldi and the Belgian Secretary of State for Transport Etienne Schouppe. Below right: Emanuele Grimaldi, Eddy Bruyninckx (Managing Director of the Antwerp Port Authority), Siim Kallas and Etienne Schouppe. Mediterranean routes New era in Ancona‑Greece maritime links “Cruise Europa” and “Cruise Olympia” offer unrivalled services both for freight and passengers M inoan Lines, a Grimaldi Group company, is experiencing a significant increase in the volume of freight and passengers transported on the daily service it operates between the Italian port of Ancona and the Greek ports of Igoumenitsa and Patras. In spite of the crisis which is heavily affecting the Greek economy, prospects are very encouraging for this year’s summer season where Minoan Lines achieved unprecedented records in the history of the maritime links between Italy and Greece by transporting over 2,800 passengers on many sailings between Patras, Igoumenitsa and Ancona. The secret of this success is in the deployment on the service of the twin vessels “Cruise Europa” and “Cruise Olympia”, last in a series of four cruise ferries built by the Fincantieri shipyards. Delivered respectively in October 2009 and June 2010, both units have marked the start of a new era in the maritime links between Italy and Greece, by ensuring a high standard of service both for freight only 22 hours. Both units have an unbeatable capacity for both passengers and freight, allowing Minoan Lines to offer extremely comIgoumenitsa petitive freight rates and fares. The freight Patras capacity of each vessel is 3,000 linear metres of rolling units (trucks, trailers, coaches and vans) and 250 passenger cars which means offering an unlimited space to trucking companies even during the summer months when the number of passengers increases dramatically and usually competes with freight for space onboard. With regard to passengers, both the “Cruise Europa” and the “Cruise Olympia” can transport up to 3,000 passengers who can be accommodated in 413 comfortable cabins (18 of which are owner’s and passengers. suites and 50 junior suites) in addition to The “Cruise Olympia” and “Cruise Eu- 548 reclining seats (114 of which are firstropa” are the biggest cruise ferries in class). They both offer onboard services the Mediterranean. With a length of 225 similar to those of cruiseships: an à la metres, a width of 31 metres, a gross ton- carte restaurant, bars, casino, gym, a nage of 54,310 tonnes and a speed of 28 conference hall, wellness area, swimknots, they perform the journey between ming pool, two lounges for truck drivers, Ancona and Patras (via Igoumenitsa) in disco, internet point, and children’s areas. Ancona GNE WS 9 Mediterranean routes New Livorno-Catania-Malta service launched Genoa T Livorno he Grimaldi Group continues its polCivitavecchia icy of strengthening and expanding Barcelona Salerno its activities in the Western MediterPorto Torres Valencia ranean by launching another maritime Cagliari Patras Palermo link. As from the 25th of September, a Corinth new regular service for rolling freight Trapani Catania Tunis between the ports of Malta, Catania and Malta Livorno (the main port of Tuscany), has become operational. Al Khoms The new line has a twice-a-week frequency, with departures from Livorno to Catania on Thursdays and Sundays, and to Malta on Mondays and Thurs- Two sisterships are operating on this new time links the Grimaldi Group further days. Departures from Malta to Livorno connection: the “Eurocargo Malta” and strengthens its Motorways of the Sea are on Mondays and Saturdays, while “Eurocargo Genoa”, the youngest units network and confirms its commitment from Catania to Livorno on Tuesdays of the Group’s fleet. Delivered by the to provide an extensive range of direct and Saturdays. The new call at the port Hyundai Mipo shipbuilders last summer, connections for the transport of rolling of Livorno has been integrated into the both units can carry about 4,000 linear freight between Northern Italy (Genoa), regular service currently offered by the metres of rolling cargo, equivalent to 280 Central Italy (Civitavecchia), Sicily (CaGroup between the ports of Genoa, Ca- trailers, at a service speed of 23 knots. tania) and, via transhipment, to the martania and Malta. With the launch of these new mari- kets of Greece, Libya and Spain. Irish Minister of Defence visits the “Grande Senegal” O n the 26th of July 2010 the Irish Beida, Eastern Chad. Cargo was moved Minister for Defence, Tony Kil- about 900 km across the desert and leen TD, accompanied by De- then sensitive cargo was flown to the fence Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Cameroonese Port of Douala, while the General Sean McCann, were in the port remaining equipment of the Defence of Dublin to oversee to the discharge Forces was moved 900 km by road and operations of the Defence Forces equip- then onward by rail to the port of Douala. ment from the “Grande Senegal”, which On the 13th of July over 3,000 tonnes had transported the equipment from of equipment was loaded on board the Chad. “Grande Senegal”, from Douala to DubThe arrival in Dublin represents the fi- lin; the equipment included 208 TEU connal phase of a major logistics operation tainers and 75 trucks, 4x4 and armoured which began in April, following the Irish vehicles, with an assortment of trailers, Government's decision to commence the fuel bowsers and other wheeled units. Chad which is located in Central Africa, withdrawal of its troops from Chad. The operation began with the disman- is approximately twice the size of France, tling of Defence Forces facilities in Goz with little or no infrastructure. 10 GNE WS The “Grande Senegal”, with a length of 210.92 metres, a width of 32.26 metres and a gross tonnage of 47,300 tonnes, is able to load 2,000 cars/vans, 2,000 linear metres of rolling cargo and 800 TEU. It is deployed on the Southern Express Service linking North Europe to the southern ports of West Africa and the Lisbon Express Service, linking Portugal with West Africa. Achievements Grimaldi receives the Ford Q1 certification for the 10th consecutive year The automotive giant recognises the Group’s excellence and quality of services F or the 10 th year in a row the automotive giant Ford granted the Grimaldi Group the Ford Q1 quality certification, the highest award granted by the automotive firm to its suppliers. The Group was the first European shipping company in getting this certificate, in 1999. The Ford Motor Company requires high quality standards from its various suppliers. One of these requirements is determined by the QOS (Quality Operating System) tool that each supplier must use to achieve the Ford certification, a recognition of excellence and quality. The QOS provides a number of parameters, metrics and systems of work involving the entire team, including the Management. Subsequently, on an annual basis, Ford audits its suppliers to establish if they really set working procedures in accordance with the levels of Ford's demand. According to Capt. Giovanni Fusco, Quality and Damage Prevention Manager, "in 1996 the Group started to integrate the QOS tool in our quality system involving all the equipment (ships, terminals, employees ...) and in 1999 we succeeded in being credited with the Q1. " Capt Fusco declared that the 10 th Q1 certification is a "great satisfaction, not only because it represents the maintenance of excellence, but also because it is a commitment to continuous improvement." To perform the audit for the Q1 certification, Ford divides the activities of their suppliers into four main modules, with their subdivisions, which will be evaluated one by one and rated on the basis of a maximum score. The four modules quoted refer to the quality (performance quality, process improvement, customer focus); delivery (performance in transit), engineering (equipment, technical and innovation novice) and the commercial module (productivity, development prices, Management ability, etc.). GNE WS 11 Achievements American Honda recognises ACL with Premier Partner Award A tlantic Container Line (ACL), a group of suppliers who embody Honda’s Grimaldi Group company, was recphilosophy of delivering the highest posognised as a top supplier by American sible value to our customers through Honda Motor Co. quality products and customer service,” President & CEO Tetsuo Iwamura presaid Gary Kessler, American Honda’s sented the company’s Premier Partner senior vice president of Human ResourcAward to ACL for excellence in interes, Administration and Corporate Affairs. national transportation between North “The support of these suppliers is critical America and Europe. ACL was one of to the success of American Honda and 15 award recipients selected from 45 supwe are honoured to recognize them for pliers nominated by American Honda From left to right: their exceptional contributions.” associates nationwide. William Kearns, Philip W. Byrne, Area Sales Manager, Chi- Since 1967, ACL has been a specialised carrier of containers, project and Executive Vice-President for ACL, stated: cago ACL with Tetsuo Iwamura, President of Honda North America, and William F. Kearns "It is an honour and a distinct privilege oversized cargo, heavy equipment and Executive Vice President of ACL for ACL to receive this prestigious award vehicles with the world’s largest combifrom American Honda. We are very for- embrace American Honda’s philosophy nation Ro-Ro/containerships. ACL offers tunate to have earned their trust and of exceeding customer expectations. five transatlantic sailings each week as support the past 20 years in providing This year’s award winners represent well as container, Ro-Ro and breakbulk transportation services for their transat- excellence in a variety of industries in- service between North America and lantic shipments." cluding logistics, printing, marketing, West Africa and oversized service to the The Premier Partner Awards were estab- packaging and much more. Mediterranean, Middle East, Australia, lished in 1998 to recognize suppliers who “Today we acknowledge an outstanding South America, Far East and South Africa. Beninese Minister of Maritime Transport visits the “Grande Benin” L ast 3rd of August the m/vessel Grande Benin was welcomed by a high-ranked delegation of the Beninese Government at the port of Cotonou. The welcoming ceremony was held on board the vessel and was attended by the Minister of Maritime Transport Issa Badarou Soulé, the king of the Yoruba Tribe Onikoyi, the Italian consul Vitaliano Gobbo and many local authorities and customers. After the welcoming speech held by the master of the vessel Giovan Battista Virzì, the Managing Director of Grimaldi Benin Giuliano Petrellese underlined the presence of the Group in Benin for the last 20 years, in which the Group counts about 2 million vehicles discharged and the number of yearly calls at Cotonou ex- 12 GNE WS ceeding 100. During the ceremony, the Minister Issa Badarou Soulé underlined not only the importance of having the vessel named after the name of the host country, but also the contribute that the ro-ro/container vessel Grande Benin (built in 2009) will give to the trade of Benin, bringing welfare to the country. He finally wished the cooperation between the Grimaldi Group and the country would continue in a future reciprocal partnership. After the blessing of king Onikoyi, who personally thanked Gianluca Grimaldi, co-managing director of the Group, and wished the vessel favorable winds through out oceans, the ceremony ended with an exchange of gifts and a visit of the vessel. NEWS Minoan carries generator to Greece O n the 21st of August Minoan Lines shipped a generator from Venice to Igoumenitsa on board the “Olympia Palace”: the abnormal cargo weighed 110 tonnes, had an height of 4 metres, a length of 34.5 metres with a width of 3.85 metres. Rail wagon from the UK to Italy O n the 15th of September a rail wagon was shipped on board the “Gran Bretagna” deployed on the Euromed service route, from the port of Southampton to Salerno. The wagon, with a length of 24.5 metres, a width of 2.74 metres and a height of 4.7 metres, weighed 73 tonnes and was loaded on a 1x 80’ mafi. Museum quality handling for vintage trolley A CL transported a 1912 trolley car from New York to Gothenburg, Sweden, on board the “Atlantic Concert”. The No. 71 tram was part of a collection at the Branford Electric Railway in East Haven, Connecticut, which ran a trolley route from 1907 through 1937. The trolley was 10 metres long, 1.8 metres wide, 3.8 metres high and had a weight of 13 tonnes. Upon arrival at Gothenburg the trolley was safely discharged to the Swedish Tramway Society Museum for display. Old London busses sail onto “Atlantic Cartier” after 50-year round trip A CL recently transported a convoy of 11 antique double-decker busses from the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Liverpool, England, on board its RoRo/Containership “Atlantic Cartier”. The fleet of former London Transport busses made one of their longest scheduled trips ever: the classic AEC Routemaster and Regent doubledeckers returned to the UK after operating at Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, for cruise line passenger tours, since the early 1960s. On the 11th of May the busses were quickly discharged in Liverpool via the vessel’s 420-metric tonne capacity stern ramp; they were then stored at the Port of Liverpool prior to being transported to Essex where the busses will become part of the Epping Ongar Railway Heritage Service. GNE WS13