The next newbuild for Grimaldi: the “Grande Istanbul” (9,241 CEU) has been christened in Shanghai. She will sail between East Asia and the Persian Gulf.
The fleet of the Italian shipping company Grimaldi continues to grow: the carrier “Grande Istanbul” has been christened in Shanghai and will soon set sail on its maiden voyage.
The ship is the fourth in a series of seven car carriers that Grimaldi has ordered from the shipyards Shangai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) and China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC). Both companies belong to the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
The “Grande Istanbul” is a Pure Car & Truck Carrier (PCTC) with a length of 200 m, a width of 38 m and a gross tonnage of 77,500. In future, it will operate on the East Asia – Persian Gulf route for Grimaldi. The ship has a cargo capacity of 9,241 CEU, spread over four decks. In addition to vehicles – both conventional and electric – other rolling cargo will also be transported, including heavy loads of up to 250 tons and a height of 6.5 meters.
According to Grimaldi, the propulsion system of the “Grande Istanbul” has the lowest specific fuel consumption in its class and meets the strictest international limits for CO₂, NOx and SOx emissions. In particular, thanks to its size – which maximizes cargo capacity – its proven ship design, innovative features and state-of-the-art systems, the Grande Istanbul reduces the CO₂ emission index per transported cargo by up to 50% compared to previous generation PCTC vessels.
In addition, the Grande Istanbul has been awarded the “Ammonia Ready” classification by the Italian shipping register (RINA). This certifies that she can be converted to ammonia as a CO₂-free alternative fuel in the future. She is also equipped for shore power connection in port (shore power supply), which – if available – offers an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fuels.
Maiden voyage with more than 3,000 vehicles
The ship’s godmother is Chunyan Yuan, Vice President of the Sany Group, a Chinese manufacturer of construction machinery and equipment. The ceremony was also attended by Zhang Wei, Vice President of SWS, Luigi Pacella Grimaldi, Automotive Intercontinental Director of the Grimaldi Group, and representatives of Sany.
The new vessel is ready for its maiden voyage as part of the Grimaldi Group’s regular East Asia-Persian Gulf service. In the coming days, over 2,000 cars, around 1,000 vans and 4,800 linear meters of other rolling cargo (including cranes, trailers, trucks, excavators and general cargo) will be shipped from the Chinese ports of Taicang and Ningbo to Jabal Ali in the United Arab Emirates.
“We are proud that our investments in new vessels are translating into improved services and added value for customers like Sany, with whom we continue to grow, driven by efficiency and sustainability,” said Emanuele Grimaldi, Managing Director of the Grimaldi Group. “With large, modern and environmentally friendly vessels such as the ‘Grande Istanbul’, we are making a concrete contribution to the development of important trade routes, for example to and from Asia, and are thus responding to the increasing demand for reliable and high-quality connections.”
Grimaldi has recently received new ships almost on a monthly basis: The “Grande Shanghai” was only handed over in August, followed by the “Grande Svezia” in September and the “Grande Melbourne” in October.
