Grimaldi welcomes the ammonia-ready Grande Melbourne

New vessel joins Asia-Europe service with major environmental and capacity upgrades

The Grimaldi Group has officially welcomed the Grande Melbourne, its newest ammonia-ready Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC). The vessel was named and delivered on 22 October at a ceremony in Shanghai.

The Grande Melbourne is the third of seven next-generation PCTCs commissioned from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company (SWS) and China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC), both part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).

High Capacity and Versatility

The Grande Melbourne measures 200 meters in length, 38 meters in beam, and has a gross tonnage of about 77,500 tons. She can carry up to 9,241 Car Equivalent Units (CEU). Also, includes electric and conventional vehicles, and various types of rolling cargo. Four decks are reinforced for heavy loads of up to 250 tons and 6.5 meters in height.

Ceremony in Shanghai

The naming ceremony brought together industry leaders, including Xu Sha, Deputy General Manager of SWS, and Luigi Pacella Grimaldi, Automotive Intercontinental Director of the Grimaldi Group. Xu Huayan, Director of Shanghai Haitong International Automotive Terminal Co., Ltd., acted as the vessel’s godmother, reflecting the strong partnership between Grimaldi and the terminal.

“Our new-generation PCTCs are setting a new standard in global vehicle transport, especially on routes connecting Asia and Europe,” said Emanuele Grimaldi, Managing Director of the Grimaldi Group. “We thank SWS for their excellent work and our customers, like Scania, for their continued trust.”

Maiden Voyage and Global Route

The Grande Melbourne will soon begin her maiden voyage on the Asia–Europe service. She will load cargo in Taicang and Xiaomo (China) and Laem Chabang (Thailand) before heading to Northern Europe with 5,900 cars and 800 linear meters of rolling cargo.

Ports of call include Southampton, Antwerp, Wilhelmshaven, Bremerhaven, Setubal, and Tanger Med, before continuing to Réunion, India, the Persian Gulf, and Taiwan, then returning to China.

Green Innovation and Performance

Named after the Australian city of Melbourne, the vessel continues Grimaldi’s focus on sustainability and efficiency. Her electronic engine delivers one of the lowest fuel consumptions in her class and complies with strict CO₂, NOx, and SOx emission standards.

With optimized design and advanced systems, the Grande Melbourne cuts CO₂ emissions per transported cargo by up to 50% compared to older PCTCs. She also carries the “Ammonia Ready” notation from RINA, allowing future conversion to ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel.

The ship is fitted for shore power (cold ironing), enabling her to operate emission-free while berthed in ports with the necessary infrastructure.

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