Grimaldi Group has taken delivery of its latest vessel, the ‘Grande Melbourne’, third of a series of seven ammonia-ready Pure Car & Truck Carrier (PCTC) ships commissioned from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company (SWS) and China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC), both subsidiaries of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
With a length of 200m and beam of 38m, the 77,500gt Grande Melbourne has been designed for efficient transport of vehicles (cars, SUVs, vans, etc.), both electric and powered by traditional fuels, and other types of rolling cargo. With a loading capacity of 9,241 CEU (Car Equivalent Units), the vessel features four decks capable of carrying other rolling cargo, including heavy loads of up to 250t and as high as 6.5m.
Grimaldi Group MD Emanuele Grimaldi said: “Our new-generation PCTCs are setting a new standard in the global transport of vehicles across key global routes, especially those connecting Asia to the rest of the world. Once again, we thank SWS for the excellent job made in the construction of the Grande Melbourne and her sister vessels. We are also deeply grateful to our long-standing customers like Scania, who keep appreciating our commitment to delivering increasingly efficient transport services worldwide”.
As part of her maiden voyage on the Grimaldi Group’s Asia-Europe service, the Grande Melbourne is scheduled to depart from Asia, following cargo operations in China – at the ports of Taicang and Xiaomo – and in Thailand, at Laem Chabang. On board, she will carry around 5,900 cars and 800 linear metres of rolling cargo (wheel loaders, excavators, tractors, buses) bound for Northern Europe.
The latest addition to the Grimaldi Group’s fleet is named after the city of Melbourne, Australia. Since 2023, this port is part of the regular monthly service dedicated to the transport of rolling cargo from Europe to Oceania. The vessel is equipped with an electronically-controlled engine, with one of the lowest specific fuel consumptions in its class and is compliant with international limits for CO₂, NOx, and SOx emissions.
A design which maximises loading capacity helps Grande Melbourne reduce the CO₂ emissions index per transported cargo by up to 50% compared to previous-generation PCTC vessels. The ‘Ammonia Ready’ class notation from RINA certifies that she is prepared to use ammonia as a zero-carbon alternative fuel in the future. She is also equipped for shore power supply, which, where available, provides a green alternative to the use of traditional fuels while docked in port.
Grimaldi’s ammonia-ready ‘Grande Melbourne’ PCTC (source: Grimaldi Group)
