In January, the company entered into an agreement with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company Limited (SWS) and China Shipbuilding Trading Company Limited (CSTC), both part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC), to construct five PCTC (Pure Car and Truck Carrier) ships. They have recently exercised the option to build two additional sister vessels, as reported by Heavy Lift.
New vessel design
The newbuildings will have a length of 200 meters, width of 38 meters, and a loading capacity of 9,000 car equivalent units (ceu). These ships have been specifically designed to transport motor vehicles and heavy rolling freight weighing up to 250 tonnes. Notably, they will feature a new type of electronic engine that offers exceptionally low fuel consumption, making them highly efficient.
Furthermore, the new vessels will be equipped with emission abatement systems to ensure compliance with strict international regulations for CO2, NOx, and SOx emissions. This emphasizes their commitment to minimizing environmental impact.
Eco-friendly ships
The newly constructed PCTC ships have received the ammonia-ready class notation from the Italian Shipping Register, indicating their potential for conversion to ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel. These vessels are also designed for cold ironing, allowing them to connect to shoreside electricity during port stays, reducing emissions further.
Emanuele Grimaldi, the group managing director, emphasized that investing in these eco-friendly ships contributes to both international trade development and the ecological transition in the shipping industry. The delivery of the two additional PCTCs is expected in 2026.
The agreement with the Chinese shipyard for the construction of all seven PCTCs is valued at over USD 630 million. This investment is part of the Grimaldi Group’s ambitious fleet renewal plan, which includes a total of 26 ships currently under construction. The plan comprises 17 ammonia-ready car carriers, five multipurpose ro-ro units of the G5-class, two hybrid ro-ro vessels of the GG5G-class, and two ro-pax ships of the Superstar-class for the subsidiary Finnlines.
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Source: Heavy Lift
