GRIMALDI GROUP.

This appears to be the original livery. Brown 1958 makes the flag’s white band narrower than Stewart; the blue shade is uncertain. Mitchell adds a black funnel top.

The older group logo was a blue swallowtail with white GG. FOTW’s G347 uses straight letter strokes, but Rosanoski suspects a more flowing form and considers G186 more likely; the surviving website download is too unclear for certainty. He also doubts whether the logo flag was used at sea.

The later group logo is a blue swallowtail with a single white G, documented in Grimaldi News in 2006. Its use as a sea flag is likewise doubted. Repubblica di Genova is recorded in these colours in an October 1999 photograph.

Eurostar Valencia’s port-side photograph of 14 January 2006 supplies this funnel.

The group is dated to 1947 by the company account, although Lloyds initially gives 1941 and the Naples account gives 1945. The brothers’ interests divided in 1966 into bulk shipping under Mario, ferries under Aldo and ro-ro under Guido. Rosanoski describes Genoa and Naples divisions, with Genoa including Grandi Navi Veloci, Grandi Traghetti, Gilnavi and Sicula Oceanica, and Naples including Atlantica, Grimaldi Compagnia di Navigazione and Industria Armamento Meridionale. Accounts of the brothers’ leadership are not fully consistent. Fratelli Grimaldi Armatori remained the trading name until 1993. Costa Container Lines acquired Grandi Traghetti/Gilnavi on 1 January 2004.

The Atlantic Container Line interest rose from 45% in 2000 to 50.09% in 2001; an apparent additional 10% may instead concern ACL Ship Management, and Rosanoski leaves that distinction open. Minoan’s holding increased by 26.71% in February 2005 from 3.05%, with majority control recorded in 2008 and 87% in the later account. A 46% controlling Finnlines interest is recorded in 2007. Grimaldi & Louis Dreyfus Lines was a half-share partnership with Louis Dreyfus Armateurs.

Atlantica became Grimaldi Euromed in February 2015. Acquisition of Sea Malta apparently led to Malta Motorways of the Sea’s incorporation on 25 November 2005, owned 60% by Atlantica and 40% by Grimaldi Compagnia; Sea Malta still appeared separately for one vessel. The group also included Grimaldi Crociere, formed in 1997 as Ausonia Crociere’s trading name before its vessel was sold, and two entries for Grimaldi Compagnia di Navigazione. Industria Armamento Meridionale was jointly owned by Grimaldi Compagnia and Atlantica.

Italy: Genoa and Naples.