Grimaldi Group has taken delivery of the Pure Car & Truck Carrier Grande Tokyo in Shanghai, adding the tenth ammonia-ready vessel to its fleet and completing a seven-ship series, according to the company.
Built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company Limited and China Shipbuilding Trading Company Limited, both part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited, the vessel has a capacity of 9,241 CEU and is designed to carry cars, SUVs, vans and other rolling cargo, including heavy units of up to 250 tonnes and 6.5 metres in height.
The delivery sharpens Grimaldi’s position in Asia-linked vehicle trades, with the group highlighting Japan’s importance in its network of direct services to Europe, the Persian Gulf and East Africa, supported by links to more than 150 ports in 60 countries.
The ship’s christening in Shanghai also underlined Grimaldi’s commercial ties with Mitsubishi Fuso, whose HR Director Rena Kawachi served as godmother, reflecting established vehicle export flows from Japan to Africa, the Middle East, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
“With our latest-generation ammonia-ready PCTCs, featuring high transport capacity and drastically reduced emissions, we have set a new standard of efficiency and environmental sustainability in global vehicle shipping along the main trade routes,” said Emanuele Grimaldi, Managing Director of the Grimaldi Group.
Grande Tokyo is 200 metres long, 38 metres wide and about 77,500 gross tonnes. Grimaldi said the vessel is equipped with an electronically controlled engine designed to comply with the strictest international limits for CO₂, NOx and SOx emissions, while cutting the CO₂ emissions index per transported cargo by up to 50% from previous-generation PCTCs.
The vessel has also received Ammonia Ready notation from RINA and is equipped for shore power during berthing. Her maiden voyage is due to begin in the coming days from Ningbo to Brazil with about 6,800 cars for Paranaguá and Rio de Janeiro.
Grimaldi Group is an Italy-based shipping and logistics company active in roll-on/roll-off, car-carrying, ferry and integrated transport services across short-sea and deepsea routes.
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company Limited is a Chinese shipbuilder focused on large commercial vessels and operates as one of the core production yards within China’s state-controlled shipbuilding sector.