The Italian Grimaldi Group has named and taken delivery of its latest vessel ‘Grande Tianjin’ from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company Limited (SWS).
The Grande Tianjin is the first of seven PCTC (pure car and truck carrier) vessels commissioned from SWS and China Shipbuilding Trading Company Limited (CSTC), both part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC). The delivery marks the 600th vessel constructed by SWS, as well as beginning a strategic partnership between Grimaldi Group and Chinese vehicle manufacturer Leapmotor. The Grande Tianjin’s inaugural cargo, bound for Northern Europe, will include, among other Leapmotor vehicles, 1,000 electric SUVs.
With a length of 200m, beam of 38m, and about 77,500gt, the Grande Tianjin has been designed for the transport of vehicles (cars, SUVs, vans, etc), both electric and powered by traditional fuels, as well as other types of rolling cargo. Specifically, she has a loading capacity of 9,241 CEU (car equivalent units), with four decks capable of carrying other rolling cargo, including heavy loads of up to 250t and as high as 6.5m.
Grande Tianjin follows the recent delivery of PCTC Grande Shanghai, also ammonia-ready, from China Merchants Heavy Industries Jiangsu.
The vessel is among the first equipped with a MAN B&W 7S60 ME-C10.6-HPSCR Tier II–Tier III electronic engine, which is thought to offer one of the lowest specific fuel consumptions in its class. It complies with the most stringent international limits for CO₂, NOx, and SOx emissions. Being designed to maximise loading capacity alongside using innovative features and systems, the Grande Tianjin reduces the CO₂ emissions index per transported cargo unit by up to 50% compared to previous-generation PCTC vessels.
Additionally, she has received the ‘ammonia ready’ class notation from RINA, certifying that she can be converted in the future to use ammonia as a zero-carbon alternative fuel. She is also equipped for shore power supply during berthing (cold ironing), which, where available, provides a green alternative to the use of traditional fuels while docked in port.
Chen Gang, SWS President, said: “Grande Tianjin is the first collaboration between SWS and the Grimaldi Group, as well as SWS’s first 9,000 CEU PCTC. To ensure the successful delivery of this project, all teams worked in close coordination. Upon verification, the vessel’s performance data fully meet the design specifications, and its quality has been highly recognised by all parties.”
Leapmotor CEO Tianshu Xin added: “China’s EV innovation is sailing to the world, and Leapmotor is proud to be at the helm of this movement. Today, with great partners such as Grimaldi, our presence spans more than 30 countries, with over 1,500 sales and service outlets worldwide, cumulative deliveries exceeding 800,000 smart EVs”.
Grimaldi Group MD Emanuele Grimaldi said: “The delivery of the Grande Tianjin by SWS marks a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainable and efficient vehicle transport across key global routes, especially those connecting Asia to the rest of the world. In recent years, we have made significant investments to strengthen our shipping connections with China and the broader Asian area. Top-tier car manufacturers like Leapmotor continue to place their trust in us, and we remain dedicated to exceeding their high expectations while adapting to their evolving needs.”
Grande Tianjin will be deployed on the East Asia-Northern Europe service. She is the first of a total of 17 ammonia-ready vessels ordered by the Grimaldi Group from Chinese shipyards, with the remaining 16 scheduled for delivery starting from late August 2025 up to 2027. Overall, this major fleet investment will allow the group to expand its coverage in key global markets, improve operational efficiency, and better meet the evolving logistics needs of its customer base.
Image: ‘Grande Tianjin’ (source: Grimaldi Group)
