Among the main features of this innovative car carrier are her 9,000 CEU capacity, halved fuel consumption and Ammonia Ready class notation.

 This morning, the Grimaldi Group took delivery of the Grande Shanghai, the first of ten next-generation PCTC (Pure Car & Truck Carrier) units commissioned from China Merchants Heavy Industries Jiangsu. Of these, the first five units can carry 9,000 CEU (Car Equivalent Units), while the following five will offer an even higher capacity of up to 9,800 CEU.

Following the Grande Tianjin, delivered in early August, the Grande Shanghai is the second Ammonia Ready unit in the Grimaldi fleet. This technological gem combines high cargo capacity with eco-sustainability, reducing fuel consumption by 50% compared to previous-generation car carriers.

The design of the Grande Shanghai is the result of collaboration between the Grimaldi Group and the naval design and architecture firm Knud E. Hansen. The vessel is 220 meters long and 38 meters wide, has a gross tonnage of 91,611 tons, and a cruising speed of 18 knots. Across her 14 decks, she can transport both electric vehicles and those powered by fossil fuels.

The Grande Shanghai has obtained the Ammonia Ready notation from the Italian Naval Register (RINA), certifying that she can be converted to use ammonia as a zero-carbon alternative fuel. But this is not the only green technology adopted onboard this innovative vessel.

Designed to the highest standards, the ship has also earned the Green Plus, Green Star 3, Comfort Vibration, and Comfort Noise Port class notations.

The Grande Shanghai is equipped with mega lithium batteries with a total capacity of 5 MWh and can also receive shore power during port stays (cold ironing) at terminals equipped with the necessary infrastructure. Both systems allow zero emissions during port stops.

The ship uses all the best technologies for energy optimization: from 2,500 square meters of solar panels to silicon-based hull coatings to reduce drag, smart ventilation and air conditioning controls. Her electronically controlled engine features an exhaust gas cleaning system to reduce sulphur oxide (SOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions, and selective catalytic reduction to limit nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions below TIER III levels.

Additional innovations further minimizing her environmental impact include an Air Lubrication System, optimized hull design, and an innovative gate rudder installed for the first time on a PCTC vessel. This rudder, featuring two foil blades positioned on either side of the propeller, improves propulsion efficiency and manoeuvrability.

“The Grimaldi Group confirms its active and strong commitment to the ecological transition of shipping,” said Managing Director Emanuele Grimaldi. “Two and a half years ago, when we signed the order for these ten extraordinary new units, we decisively chose to invest in a carbon-free future by focusing on alternative fuels such as ammonia. An investment we continue to strongly support, as we believe that to maintain leadership in our sector, it is necessary to offer the best sea transport services with the lowest possible environmental impact. With cutting-edge ships like the Grande Shanghai, we will continue to support the global automotive industry with quality, efficiency, and sustainability.”

The Grande Shanghai will make her maiden voyage on the East Asia – East Africa service, launched by the Grimaldi Group last June and now on its third departure. Loaded with 7,000 linear meters of new rolling cargo units (including trucks, trailers, buses, tractors and agricultural machinery), the vessel will depart from the Chinese port of Taicang in early September and will subsequently call at Mombasa (Kenya) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania).

In the future, the Grande Shanghai is set to strengthen Grimaldi’s services dedicated to vehicle transport between East Asia and Northern Europe. The other 15 PCTC Ammonia Ready units currently under construction for the Naples-based shipping group — scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2027 — will also be deployed on routes serving the Asian market.