Genoa: Today sees the launch of the first issue of Maritime CEO magazine in 2016. Gracing the cover is Also Grimaldi, the doyen of Italian shipowners, Now 93, he’s still firmly at the helm of Genoa-based Grimaldi Holding, which currently owns four ropaxes built in Italy at Nuovi Cantieri Apuania shipyard.
Grimaldi discusses how shipping has changed in his lifetime in a fascinating interview spread over three pages with the help of Clarkson Platou’s Dr Martin Stopford providing historical context of how shipping was when Grimaldi was born.
Grimaldi says the most noteworthy change in the industry is the extremely advanced technology applied to ships during the design stage. “This means we can see how the ship will perform even before we build it,” he says.
The march towards autonomous ships is also something that amazes the Italian. “Thanks to evolution in the field of electronics and computerisation, with a small number of crewmembers, we can manage and monitor the entire ship – even automatically – from the bridge and engine room control station,” he notes.
The ease with which ships can now manoeuvre is something else that Grimaldi sees as a huge development in his lifetime.
“Thanks to bow thrusters and azipods, the units can fully turn around on their own. In other words, there’s no need for tugs,” he says.
A further dramatic change concerns ship sizes with Grimaldi quipiing: “Ours is the era of size is cool.”
Grimaldi is one of eight shipowners profiled in the current issue. To access the full magazine for free online, click here.
