Grimaldi takes delivery of second ammonia PCTC

Built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, a unit of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the 9,000 CEU vessel was formally named and handed over on 8 August in Shanghai, in a ceremony that also marked the delivery of the yard’s 600th ship.

The Grande Tianjin is scheduled to sail on its maiden voyage on 19 August, carrying electric vehicles from Chinese manufacturer Leapmotor to European ports. Technical specifications point to an incremental but deliberate energy-efficiency strategy: a low-consumption main engine paired with integrated energy-saving features such as a twisted rudder and bulb with fins, and a medium-voltage shore power system designed to eliminate emissions while alongside.

Holding the Ammonia Ready class notation from RINA, the vessel is designed for future conversion to operate on ammonia, a fuel increasingly viewed as a credible zero-carbon option for long-haul maritime transport.

She is the second in a ten-ship series of next-generation PCTCs ordered by Grimaldi. The first five units, including Grande Tianjin, will carry 9,000 CEU, with the remaining five offering increased capacity of 9,800 CEU. The lead ship, Grande Shanghai, (pictured) was delivered last month at a ceremony in Haimen, China, signalling the pace at which Grimaldi and its Chinese builders intend to bring these vessels into service.