AYK Energy to Supply Battery Systems for Nine Grimaldi Group RoPax Vessels
AYK Energy has secured an agreement to supply its 2,073 kWh OrionAN marine batteries for nine new RoPax vessels being constructed for the Grimaldi Group as part of its fleet renewal programme.
Based in Naples, the Grimaldi Group is a multinational logistics company specialising in the operation of Ro-Ro vessels, car carriers and ferries. The company has operated since 1947 and is working to reduce the environmental impact of its maritime activities.
The nine vessels are being built at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Weihai, China, and are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2030.
Six will operate in the Mediterranean under the Grimaldi Lines and Minoan Lines brands, while the remaining three will be operated by Finnlines in the Baltic Sea.
Designed to improve the quality and efficiency of maritime transport for both passengers and rolling cargo, the vessels will incorporate a range of technologies intended to reduce their environmental impact.
These will include multi-fuel engines capable of operating on methanol, optimised hull forms, high-efficiency propellers, shore-power connections and waste-heat recovery systems.
AYK’s OrionAN battery systems will support the vessels’ energy efficiency and environmental performance. The battery range received DNV type approval in 2025, confirming its compliance with maritime safety and performance requirements.
AYK Energy founder Chris Kruger said the order reflects growing demand for marine battery systems and the role they can play in improving efficiency and reducing emissions across the shipping sector.
“With high-profile deals with major players in the maritime world like Grimaldi, AYK continues to demonstrate how battery technology is evolving and becoming more powerful, more advanced and more competitive.
“AYK’s battery solutions help shipping operators like Grimaldi improve efficiency, reduce emissions and accelerate the transition towards more sustainable maritime transport.
“We all want to see fewer emissions and green shipping. But batteries will only be part of the decarbonisation agenda if shipowners see the return on investment. There has to be a compelling business case.
“And that’s what the range of batteries that AYK can now offer is all about: the mass adoption of batteries that can pay for themselves within a matter of years.”
About AYK Energy
AYK Energy was founded in 2018 by Chris Kruger with the aim of producing lower-cost marine batteries offering strong performance and safety while exceeding class and industry standards.
Kruger previously helped develop the first marine type-approved battery more than a decade ago. Drawing on more than 15 years of industry experience, AYK’s team continues to develop battery systems for the maritime sector.
Further information is available from AYK Energy’s website.