Grimaldi's new ammonia-ready vessel to enter service soon

The new pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) will be deployed on the East Asia–East Africa route, with its maiden voyage scheduled to depart from the Chinese port of Taicang in early September and subsequent calls at Kenya's Mombasa and Tanzania's Dar es Salaam.

IMAGE: Grimaldi’s ammonia-ready PCTC Grande Shanghai. Grimaldi

The 9,000 CEU capacity vessel, Grande Shanghai, is designed as ammonia-ready, meaning it can be retrofitted in the future to run on ammonia fuel, though it cannot do so immediately upon delivery.

It is also equipped with shore power capability and an air lubrication system, which releases bubbles from air release units (ARUs) along the hull. These bubbles form a thin layer of air beneath the vessel, reducing friction and improving fuel efficiency.

Designed by Danish naval architect Knud E. Hansen, the Grande Shanghai is the first of ten ammonia-ready PCTCs under construction at China Merchants Heavy Industries (Jiangsu).

After its initial deployment to East Africa, the vessel is expected to transport vehicles between East Asia and Northern Europe.

By Tuhin Roy

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