Grimaldi adds second ammonia-ready PCTC from China

Italy’s Grimaldi Group has taken delivery of the second of seven ammonia-ready pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) being built at subsidiaries of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).

IMAGE: Grimaldi Group’s ammonia-ready PCTC Grande Auckland. Grimaldi Group

The new vessel, Grande Auckland, has a capacity of 9,241 CEUs and carries the Ammonia Ready class notation from Italian classification society RINA. While not equipped to run on ammonia upon delivery, it can be retrofitted for ammonia fuel in the future. The vessel also features shore power connectivity.

The Grande Auckland will debut on the Asia–Europe service, where it will remain deployed throughout this year. Its maiden voyage will begin in Shanghai and Lianyungang, with port calls in Agadir and Tanger Med (Morocco), Vigo (Spain), Antwerp (Belgium), and Southampton (UK). On the return leg to Asia, it will call at La Réunion, then Yokohama and Toyohashi (Japan), before reaching Masan (South Korea).

All seven vessels in the series are being built by CSSC’s Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company (SWS) and China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC).

In addition, Grimaldi has another 14 ammonia-ready PCTCs on order, scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2027.

By Tuhin Roy

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