Grande-Atlantico Vessel Reviews and Specifications

On January 19, 2025, at approximately 8 a.m., the Grimaldi-operated vessel 'Grande Atlantico' encountered engine troubles while sailing from Zeebrugge. The ship experienced difficulties near Monteferro, leading to it drifting within the Vigo estuary. In response to the situation, the crew dropped anchor and reached out to Salvamento Marítimo for assistance. Two tugboats promptly arrived on the scene. Just as the tugboats secured their lines to begin the towing operation, the 'Grande Atlantico' regained its propulsion capabilities. Nevertheless, to ensure safety, the decision was made to keep the tugs escorting the vessel to the Bouzas vehicle terminal in the port of Vigo. Once the vessel was safely docked, cargo operations commenced without further incident. This latest event follows a similar predicament faced by another Grimaldi vessel, the 'Grande Napoli', which remains anchored at the Maritime Station of the port after suffering an engine malfunction on October 29, 2024. That incident occurred approximately 28 nautical miles west of Viana do Castelo, while the ship was en route from Portbury (Bristol) to Setúbal. The tug

In a remarkable display of maritime rescue efforts, 113 migrants were saved over the night of March 26, 2022, as they arrived at Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria. A third vessel reached La Restinga (El Hierro) without assistance, its number of occupants still unknown. The Las Palmas Rescue Center had been tipped off about a rubber dinghy departing from Tarfaya, prompting the mobilization of the Sasemar 103 aircraft. By 6:00 p.m., the plane successfully located the migrants approximately ten nautical miles from Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura). The rescue operation swiftly escalated, with the 'Salvamar Mizar' dispatched to the scene. Additionally, the Civil Guard's patrol vessel, 'Rio Segura', which was already nearby, provided crucial escort support for the inflatable boat until the rescue boat arrived around 7:30 p.m. A total of 53 sub-Saharan migrants were brought to safety, including 39 men, 13 women, and a child. The rescue team transported them to the Port of Gran Tarajal, where they safely docked by 9:00 p.m. In a separate incident, at 7:15 p.m., the Sasemar 103 spotted another dinghy, leading the Las Palmas Rescue Center to direct the 'Grande Atlántico' to provide escort until the 'Guardamar Calliope' reached the location. By 10:00 p.m., the 'Guardamar Calliope' arrived, rescuing the 60 North African men aboard. They were subsequently disembarked at the Port of Arguineguín (Gran Canaria) at 01:30 a.m. on March 27. These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges and humanitarian efforts in maritime rescue operations off the Canary Islands.

The cargo vessel Grande Atlantico faced a quarantine in Hamburg amidst a COVID-19 scare involving its crew. Beginning on April 26, 2020, the ship remained under strict health protocols after two out of its 23 crew members exhibited symptoms that raised concerns about a possible coronavirus infection. Subsequent testing confirmed that those two initially flagged were indeed positive, along with two other crew members aboard. This prompted the port authorities to enforce a quarantine until May 25, when the Grande Atlantico was finally released from restrictions. After a month-long pandemic-related impasse, the vessel set sail for Antwerp, its next destination, at 9 p.m.