The Italian maritime corporation Grimaldi Group, one of the world's leading operators in transport and logistics services for the automotive industry, has decided to further expand its fleet of 'car carrier' ships (therefore used for transporting new cars from places of construction to the sales markets) already prepared to be able to use ammonia as fuel.
In the past months, the group had already ordered several units of this type from Chinese shipyards, and in particular last January it signed with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company Limited (SWS) and China Shipbuilding Trading Company Limited (CSTC), two companies part from China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC), a contract for the construction of 5 ammonia-ready Pure Car & Truck Carrier (PCTC) vessels. Contract which was linked to an option for two more ships of the same type, which Grimaldi has now exercised.
Thus, the number of car carriers already prepared for the ammonia fuel supply as part of this contract rises to 7.
With a length of 200 meters, a width of 38 meters and a load capacity of 9,000 CEU (Car Equivalent Unit), the new buildings - Grimaldi explains in a note - were designed for the transport of electric vehicles (cars, SUVs, vans, etc.) as well as those powered by fossil fuels, as well as other types of heavy rolling freight up to 250 tons. They will be among the first ships equipped with a new version of electronic engine characterized by specific consumption among the lowest in the category. Equipped with emission abatement systems, the new units will comply with the most stringent limits established at international level for CO2, NOx and SOx emissions.
Thanks to design innovations and latest generation engines and systems, the index of CO2 emissions per load transported is significantly reduced: up to over 50% compared to that of the other PCTC units currently used by the Grimaldi Group.
In addition, the new ships will have the Ammonia-ready class notation from RINA (Italian Naval Register) which certifies that they can be converted in a phase following the use of ammonia as an alternative fuel with zero carbon emissions. They will also be set up for the supply of electricity from the ground during mooring (cold ironing), which is, where available, a green alternative to the consumption of fossil fuels during stops in port.
The total value of the agreement with the Chinese shipyard for the construction of the seven PCTC vessels exceeds 630 million dollars. This investment is part of the massive fleet renewal plan, which includes 26 ships currently under construction: 17 ammonia-ready car carrier units, 5 multipurpose ro-ro of the new "G5" class, two hybrid ro-ro of the GG5G series and two ro-pax “Superstar” (for the subsidiary Finnlines).
"Investing in the design and construction of ships that are as capacious and respectful of the environment, as the new ammonia-ready PCTC units, means concretely contributing both to the development of international trade and to the ecological transition in the shipping sector", said the Administrator Group delegate, Emanuele Grimaldi. “Our fleet modernization project is extremely ambitious, but it is these initiatives that our sector needs to face the great challenge of decarbonisation, one of the most urgent and demanding of our time”.
Delivery of the two newly commissioned PCTCs is scheduled for 2026. Like the quintuplets ordered in early 2023, they will be deployed on voyages between Europe, North Africa, the Near and Far East, to meet the needs of transport of operators in the automotive sector.
