The new Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) ‘Grande Tokyo’ has been delivered to the Grimaldi Group from the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
This is Grimaldi’s 10th ammonia-ready vessel, designed for the future use of ammonia as an alternative fuel, and the last of seven sister vessels ordered from CSSC’s shipyards SWS (Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company) and CSTC (China Shipbuilding Trading Company).
The Grande Tokyo has been designed for the efficient transport of vehicles, both electric and powered by traditional fuels, as well as many other types of rolling cargo, with a loading capacity of 9,241 CEU across four decks capable of carrying heavy loads of up to 250t and up to 6.5m high.
The vessel is named after the city of Tokyo as a symbolic tribute to Japan and its central role within Grimaldi’s Asia-focused services. The group serves several Japanese ports within regular direct connections between Asia and Europe, the Persian Gulf and East Africa, and continues to strengthen its presence in the country. Thanks to transhipment options and a network comprising over 150 ports in 60 countries, the company is able to connect Japan to the world’s main trade routes.
Grimaldi Group MD Emanuele Grimaldi said: “With our latest-generation ammonia-ready PCTCs, featuring high transport capacity and drastically reduced emissions, we have set a new standard of efficiency and environmental sustainability in global vehicle shipping along the main trade routes. We reaffirm our commitment to strengthening our role as a reliable partner for our customers, supporting their growth with increasingly advanced logistics solutions capable of adapting to the needs of an ever-evolving market.”
The Grande Tokyo’s maiden voyage will begin in the coming days from Ningbo (China), bound for Brazil. The vessel will depart carrying approximately 6,800 cars destined for the ports of Paranaguá and Rio de Janeiro.
With a length of 200m, beam of 38m and around 77,500gt, the Grande Tokyo is equipped with an electronic engine, which offers one of the lowest specific fuel consumptions in its class and complies with international limits for CO₂, NOx, and SOx emissions. In particular, thanks to the size – which maximises loading capacity – proven ship design, innovative features, and state-of-the-art systems, the Grande Tokyo reduces the CO₂ emissions index per transported cargo by up to 50% compared to previous-generation PCTC vessels.
Additionally, Grande Tokyo 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 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.
Image: ‘Grande Tokyo’, last of a series of seven ammonia-ready PCTCs (source: Grimaldi Group)
