Ignazio Messina & C. has received what the Italian shipping company claims to be the world's largest ro-ro containership, Jolly Cobalto, at the South Korea-based STX Offshore & Shipbuilding shipyard in Jinhae.

The new vessel, flying the flag of Italy, is starting its maiden voyage to Europe with a ro-ro cargo and is expected to start operating within the Messina regular liner services between the Mediterranean ports and the Red Sea and Middle Eastern destinations.

This vessel is the sister vessel of the ro-ro Jolly Titanio, delivered from the same shipyard in November 2014. Two more vessels from this series, Jolly Vanadio and Jolly Paladio, are projected to join the fleet by mid-2015.

The vessels are a part of the second stage of a US$500m development plan that the Genoa-based shipping company is currently undertaking.

The new ship, built by the Korean yard under the supervision of the Messina Technical office, has an 11.5 metres draft and a ramp designed to allow boarding heavy lift cargo.