The pure car and truck carrier Grande Seoul can be converted in the future to use ammonia as a zero-carbon alternative fuel. Image credit: Grimaldi

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Grimaldi Group has taken delivery of the pure car and truck carrier Grande Seoul in Shanghai, adding the ninth ammonia-ready vessel to the Italian shipping company’s fleet.

Built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company Limited (SWS) and China Shipbuilding Trading Company Limited (CSTC), both part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC), the vessel measures 200 metres in length with a gross tonnage of about 77,500 tonnes and a capacity of 9,241 car equivalent units (CEU).

Grande Seoul is designed to transport vehicles including cars, SUVs and vans, as well as other types of rolling cargo. Four decks are configured to handle heavy cargo weighing up to 250 tonnes and measuring up to 6.5 metres in height.

According to Grimaldi, the vessel’s CO₂ emission index per transported cargo is reduced by up to 50% compared with the previous generation of pure car and truck carriers. The ship is fitted with an electronically controlled engine designed to deliver low specific fuel consumption while complying with international limits for CO₂, nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides emissions.

The vessel has been awarded the 'Ammonia Ready' class notation by RINA (Italian Naval Register), confirming that it can be converted in the future to operate on ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel. It is also equipped for shore power connection during port stays, allowing the use of electricity instead of onboard generators where infrastructure is available.

The vessel’s name pays tribute to Seoul, the capital of South Korea, which has been part of the Grimaldi Group’s network since 2022 through services linking Europe and the Asian country.

Grande Seoul is expected to depart shortly from Shanghai (Taicang) on its maiden voyage on the Asia–Europe service. The ship will carry more than 6,200 cars and around 1,600 linear metres of additional rolling cargo bound for Antwerp in Belgium, Portbury in the United Kingdom and Vigo in Spain.

“With the addition of Grande Seoul to our fleet, we are further strengthening the services dedicated to vehicle transport between Asia and the rest of the world,” said Emanuele Grimaldi, managing director of the Grimaldi Group. “Thanks to significant investments in modern vessels that combine transport capacity with high environmental performance, we can offer our customers increasingly efficient and sustainable services on intercontinental routes.”

The vessel joins sister ships already in service, including Grande Tianjin, Grande Auckland, Grande Melbourne, Grande Istanbul and Grande Manila.