In their ongoing effort to expand and modernize its fleet, Grimaldi Group has ordered an additional five Pure Car & Truck Carrier (PCTC) vessels from China Merchants Heavy Industries Jiangsu. With this, the total number of car carriers ordered by the Naples-based company within three months has now reached fifteen.
These newly ordered vessels, designed in collaboration with Knud E. Hansen naval design and architecture studio, have been designed to carry over 9,000 Car Equivalent Units (CEU) and are capable of transporting both electric and fossil fuel vehicles. They have received the Ammonia Ready class notation from the Italian Shipping Register (RINA), indicating their potential for future conversion to use ammonia as marine fuel.
The new ships will be fitted with a variety of advanced, eco-friendly technologies including mega lithium batteries, solar panels, and shore connection capability (cold ironing), which provides a greener alternative to using fossil fuels during port stays. Furthermore, they will feature an air lubrication system, innovative propulsion, and optimized hull design to minimize their carbon footprint. These features are expected to reduce fuel consumption by 50% compared to previous generation car carrier vessels.
The PCTCs are slated to operate between Europe, North Africa, and the Near and Far East, meeting the evolving transport needs of the automotive industry.
Grimaldi Group’s recent orders have not only reinforced their ongoing partnership with China Merchant Industry Holdings but also demonstrated their commitment to their customers, primarily leading car manufacturers. The company is dedicated to providing increasingly efficient and environmentally sustainable shipping services.
Emanuele Grimaldi, Managing Director of Grimaldi Group, stated, “Ten out of fifteen of our newly ordered car carriers will be deployed on the Far East trade, supporting the growing development of China’s automotive industry.”
The Grimaldi Group’s aggressive fleet upgrade and renewal strategy has led to it currently operating 130 ships worldwide. The ten vessels ordered from China Merchants Heavy Industries Jiangsu are due for delivery between 2025 and 2027. With recent investments of approximately USD 2.5 billion, the Group is set to take delivery of twenty-five new state-of-the-art vessels over the next five years, which includes fifteen ammonia-ready PCTCs, among others.
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