The Grande-Europa: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

On June 14, 2023, the Guardia Civil took decisive action by arresting the captain and three senior officers of the Grande Europa, amid suspicions of arson related to a fire incident that occurred on May 15. The vessel, which was carrying 1,843 vehicles, was ablaze approximately 40 kilometers off the coast of Palma de Mallorca. Notably, the ship was undergoing repairs in Valencia at the time of the arrests, as authorities explored the possibility that the fires ignited independently, raising concerns of malicious intent. Following the incident, the Grande Europa was relocated to Naples on July 2, 2023, docking at the Terminal Flavio Giovia at 11 a.m. After completing its stay, the vessel set sail on October 5 at 6:40 p.m., navigating toward Messina, where it arrived on October 6 at 10 a.m. and was secured at the Palumbo S.P.A. for additional repairs. Once the maintenance works were finalized on October 25 at 3:40 p.m., the Grande Europa made its way to Gemlik, where it docked from October 27 at 9 p.m. until October 28 at noon. With plans for further voyages, the ship is expected to arrive in Antwerp with an ETA of November 2 at 7 a.m.

The Grande Europa made its way into Valencia under tow on May 23 at 03:15 AM, following a series of delays. The vessel departed from Palma on the afternoon of May 20, having received necessary clearance from the Maritime Captaincy. This operation was a joint effort, with coordination from the central government, the Balearic Government, and the Palma City Council, along with various departments and emergency services. A critical issue raised by Grimaldi regarding the vehicles transported on board concerns the batteries, which have the potential to cause short circuits and fires. The rising prevalence of hybrid and electric vehicles has led to an increase in such incidents. Addressing these battery-related fires can be particularly challenging and time-consuming.

In light of the recent fire incident on the Grimaldi Lines vehicle carrier Grande Europa, Italian maritime giant Grimaldi Group has made a compelling appeal for more rigorous cargo safety regulations. The blaze erupted on May 15 while the Grande Europa was navigating approximately 25 nautical miles from Palma de Mallorca. Fortunately, the fire was contained, leading to the safe evacuation of 15 out of 25 crew members, with no reported injuries. The vessel, which was transporting a significant cargo of 1,687 vehicles—including new cars, vans, trucks, and excavators—along with 49 containers primarily filled with food items, was ultimately towed back to Palma after the fire was extinguished. Preliminary reports indicate that the incident involved two distinct fires. The initial alarm sounded at 00:45 a.m. after a fire broke out on deck 3, which was managed and extinguished by the crew within approximately 45 minutes. A subsequent fire was detected at 04:00 a.m. on deck 8, which spread to deck 9. The crew swiftly utilized onboard firefighting resources to address this second blaze as well. In their statement, Grimaldi Group emphasized the urgent need for tighter safety controls and monitoring of cargo, urging the industry to take preventive measures against such dangerous incidents in the future.