A christening and delivery ceremony for the ‘Grande Istanbul’, fourth of seven ammonia-ready Pure Car & Truck Carriers (PCTCs) for the Grimaldi Group has been held at the SWS (Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding) and CSTC (China Shipbuilding Trading) shipyards—both part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
With a length of 200m, beam of 38m, and tonnage of about 77,500gt, the Grande Istanbul has been designed for the efficient transport of vehicles (cars, SUVs, vans, etc.), both electric and powered by traditional fuels, as well as other types of rolling cargo. The vessel has a loading capacity of 9,241 CEU (Car Equivalent Units), with four decks capable of carrying other rolling cargo, including heavy loads of up to 250t and as high as 6.5m.
The new vessel’s maiden voyage will be on the Grimaldi Group’s regular East Asia–Persian Gulf service. At the Chinese ports of Taicang and Ningbo, over 2,000 cars, around 1,000 vans and 4,800 linear metres of other rolling cargo (including cranes, trailers, trucks, excavators and breakbulk cargo) will be shipped to Jebel Ali, in the UAE.
Emanuele Grimaldi, MD Grimaldi Group, said: “We are proud that our investments in new vessels are translating into enhanced services and value for customers like SANY, with whom we continue to grow, driven by efficiency and sustainability. With large, modern, and environmentally friendly units like the Grande Istanbul, we are making a concrete contribution to the development of key trades such as those to and from Asia, responding to the growing demand for reliable and high-quality connections.”
The name Grande Istanbul pays tribute to Turkey, where for many years Grimaldi Group vessels have called at Turkish ports including Ambarli, Autoport, Derince, Gemlik, Izmir, and Yenikoy as part of regular services dedicated to the transport of vehicles and other rolling cargo in the Mediterranean and to/from Northern Europe.
The vessel is equipped with an electronic engine, which offers one of the lowest specific fuel consumptions in its class and complies with international limits for CO₂, NOx, and SOx emissions. In particular, thanks to her size – which maximises loading capacity – proven ship design, innovative features, and up-to-date systems, the Grande Istanbul reduces the CO₂ emissions index per transported cargo by up to 50% compared to previous-generation PCTC vessels. Grande Istanbul has received the ‘Ammonia Ready’ class notation from RINA, certifying that she can be converted in the future to use ammonia as a zero-carbon alternative fuel. She is equipped for shore power supply during berthing (cold ironing).
‘Grande Istanbul’ ammonia-ready PCTC (source: Grimaldi Group)
