Fire Disables Grimaldi Euromed Ship Grande Roma

A fire in the engine room has left a Grimaldi Euromed-owned car carrier without propulsion.

The incident occurred aboard the Grande Roma, a 2003-built, Italian-flagged vessel with a capacity of 5,379 CEU. According to the company, the fire broke out at around 10 p.m. local time on October 25 while the ship was exiting the English Channel.

The crew quickly responded by discharging CO₂ into the engine room and cooling the bulkheads to contain the blaze. Fortunately, the ship’s master confirmed that no one was injured and that no pollution resulted from the incident. However, with the vessel immobilized, assistance was requested from the owner’s emergency response team to arrange for a suitable tug.

Grimaldi Euromed chartered the tug Abeille Liberté, which established a tow connection at approximately 9:36 a.m. on October 26. The Grande Roma was expected to reach the Port of Le Havre on October 27. The company also coordinated all necessary support for the crew, vessel, and cargo.

AIS tracking data shows the ship currently “not under command” and moving toward Le Havre, positioned in the Baie de la Seine, north of Caen. The Grande Roma had departed from Antwerp on October 24, bound for Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates.

“Grimaldi Euromed wishes to thank the French and English authorities and the company Les Abeilles for their timely and professional response to this incident,” the company stated.