Telespazio - Grimaldi Agreement

Naples  07 February 2019 11:00

Telespazio will provide satellite communication services to the Neapolitan Shipping Group.

 

Telespazio, a joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%), and the Grimaldi Group recently signed two contracts for the upgrade of the Neapolitan Shipping Group’s satellite communications capacity on its fleet of cargo and passenger vessels.

The first agreement provides for managing on-board communications for RO/RO, RO/RO multi-purpose and PCTC (Pure Car & Truck Carrier) vessels in the Grimaldi Fleet that operate between Northern Europe, North and South America, West Africa, and the Mediterranean.

Specifically, Telespazio will take care of the design and supply of on-board systems for satellite communications and related broadband services, including backup, on a multi-regional scale. These services will be provided via Telespazio’s global coverage platform operated by the Fucino Space Centre (L’Aquila). 

The second agreement covers renovating basic (voice and data) satellite telecommunication services for crew and passengers, on mixed cargo/passenger ships that the Neapolitan Group currently operates in the Mediterranean, between Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Greece, Spain, Tunisia, Morocco and Malta.

The overall value of both agreements signed between Telespazio and the Grimaldi Group is about Euro 5 million.

 

Telespazio 

A Leonardo and Thales 67/33 joint-venture, is one of the world’s leading operators in satellite services. Its activities range from the design and development of space systems to the management of launch services, from in-orbit satellite control to Earth observation, from integrated communications, satellite navigation and localisation services to scientific programmes. Telespazio plays a leading role in the reference markets harnessing technological experience acquired over the years. Since its establishment, the company has participated in major European space programmes such as Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus and COSMO-SkyMed. In 2017, Telespazio generated sales of EUR 564 million while employing approximately 2,500 people in eight countries.

The Grimaldi Group

Headquartered in Naples, operates a fleet of over 120 vessels and employs approximately 15,000 people. Wholly owned by the Grimaldi family, it is a multinational logistics Group specialised in the operation of roll-on/roll-off vessels, car carriers and ferries. It comprises six shipping companies, namely: Grimaldi Deep Sea, operating in the transport of rolling cargo and container on the Atlantic routes and between the Mediterranean and West Africa; Grimaldi Euromed, specialized in the transport of rolling freight in Europe, in the Motorways of the Sea and in the transport of passengers in the Mediterranean with the Grimaldi Lines brand; Atlantic Container Line, which offers transport services for containers and rolling cargo between North America and North Europe; Malta Motorways of the Sea, shipowning company; Minoan Lines, operating in Greek cabotage for the transport of freight and passengers; Finnlines, operating in freight and passengers transport in the North and Baltic Sea. The maritime connections are the core of an advanced logistics chain, which includes port terminals and road transport companies. The 21 port terminals owned/operated by the Grimaldi Group are located in 12 countries around the world: Italy (Salerno, Monfalcone, Civitavecchia, Catania, Gioia Tauro, Savona Palermo and Livorno), Spain (Barcelona, Valencia and Sagunto), Germany (Hamburg), Sweden (Wallhamn), Finland (Turku and Helsinki), Denmark (Esbjerg), Ireland (Cork), Belgium (Antwerp), Cameroon (Douala), Nigeria (Lagos), Benin (Cotonou). Most of these terminals are fitted with Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) facilities, warehouses and workshops.