Grimaldi Group Takes Delivery of Second Ammonia-Ready PCTC Grande Tianjin

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  • Grimaldi Group has received its second ammonia-ready Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS).
  • The 9,000-car capacity vessel is equipped for low emissions, electric vehicle transport, and future zero-carbon fuel conversion.
  • Its maiden voyage on August 19 will carry Leapmotor’s 1,000,000th pure electric vehicle to Europe.

Italian shipping firm Grimaldi Group has taken delivery of the Grande Tianjin, its second ammonia-ready PCTC, from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC). The vessel can carry up to 9,000 cars, including electric vehicles, conventional fuel cars, and heavy ro-ro cargo.

This delivery also marks a milestone for SWS, as the Grande Tianjin is its 600th completed vessel or offshore platform since the delivery of its first unit—the FPSO Hai Yang Shi You 111—in 2003.

Design, Technology, and Environmental Features

The Grande Tianjin incorporates a new low-consumption main engine, energy-saving devices such as a twisted rudder and rudder bulb with fins, and a medium-voltage shore power system that allows for zero emissions while berthed. The vessel is certified by RINA as “Ammonia Ready,” enabling future conversion to run on zero-carbon fuels.

SWS reported that the dock and quayside construction period was only 179 days, setting a new record for this vessel type.

Operational Deployment

The vessel is set to depart on its maiden voyage on August 19, transporting Leapmotor’s 1,000,000th pure electric vehicle from China to Europe.

Fleet Expansion Context

In July 2025, Grimaldi Group held the naming ceremony for the Grande Shanghai, the first of ten next-generation PCTCs ordered from China Merchants Heavy Industries, marking a broader fleet modernization and decarbonization push.

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Source: Marine Link