The Grimaldi Group has taken delivery of its latest pure car and truck carrier (PCTC), Grande Oriente, built by China Merchants Heavy Industries Jiangsu, the Naples-based shipping group announced on 1 July.

The vessel is Grimaldi's 12th ammonia-ready PCTC and joins sister ships already in service, including Grande Shanghai, Grande Svezia, Grande Michigan and Grande Inghilterra. Like those vessels, Grande Oriente has received the Ammonia Ready notation from the Italian Shipping Register (RINA), certifying that it can be converted to operate on ammonia as a zero-carbon alternative fuel.

Measuring 220 metres in length with a beam of 38 metres and a gross tonnage of 93,145, the vessel has a maximum capacity of 9,000 car equivalent units (CEU) and a cruising speed of 18 knots. It is capable of transporting both electric vehicles and those powered by fossil fuels.

According to Grimaldi, Grande Oriente can reduce fuel consumption by 50% compared with earlier-generation car carriers, owing to an array of energy-efficiency technologies installed on board. These include 2,500 square metres of solar panels, silicone-based hull coatings to reduce hydrodynamic resistance, and smart systems for optimising ventilation and air conditioning. Its electronically controlled engine features an exhaust gas cleaning system to reduce sulphur oxide (SOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions, along with selective catalytic reduction to limit nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions to below IMO Tier III limits.

The vessel is also equipped with lithium-ion batteries with a total capacity of 5 MWh and shore power (cold ironing) capability, enabling it to draw electricity directly from shore where facilities are available.

Further environmental features include an air lubrication system, an optimised hull design, and what Grimaldi describes as an innovative gate rudder — said to be installed for the first time on a PCTC — consisting of two foil-shaped blades positioned on either side of the propeller to enhance propulsion efficiency and manoeuvrability.

Grande Oriente has been awarded the Green Plus, Green Star 3, Comfort Vibration and Comfort Noise Port class notations. Its name — meaning 'Great East' — is intended to reflect Grimaldi's stated focus on Far Eastern markets. The ship is set to depart on its maiden voyage from Taicang, China, in the coming days, bound for Portbury, UK, carrying 700 linear metres of rolling cargo and more than 6,200 cars on the Asia–Europe service.

Emanuele Grimaldi, Managing Director of the Grimaldi Group, commented: "The Grande Oriente is not only a state-of-the-art new vessel but also the symbol of a strategy firmly focused on Eastern markets, which are becoming increasingly central to global trade flows. Through our continuous investments in fleet renewal and the expansion of our service network, we are strengthening the Group's ability to offer extensive, frequent, and sustainable maritime connections, while providing our customers — particularly vehicle manufacturers — with ever more efficient logistics solutions."