The Grimaldi Group has taken delivery of its new vessel Grande Oriente, which was officially handed over on Tuesday following its construction by China Merchants Heavy Industries Jiangsu. The vessel is the Neapolitan shipping group’s twelfth ammonia-ready Pure Car & Truck Carrier (PCTC), designed for future conversion to ammonia as a zero-carbon alternative fuel.
Like her sister vessels already in service—Grande Shanghai, Grande Svezia, Grande Michigan and Grande Inghilterra—the new ship stands out for her high cargo capacity and reduced environmental impact, thanks to an innovative design and numerous advanced technological solutions installed on board.
With length of 220 metres, beam of 38 metres, gross tonnage of 93,145, and a cruising speed of 18 knots, the Grande Oriente can transport both electric vehicles and those powered by fossil fuels, with a maximum capacity of 9,000 CEU (Car Equivalent Units).
The vessel's name, Grande Oriente—meaning "Great East"—celebrates the Grimaldi Group's expansion into Far Eastern markets, where in recent years the company has strengthened its presence through an increasingly extensive, frequent, and comprehensive network of maritime services. This network connects strategic markets to a global system of more than 150 ports across five continents. In line with this strategy, the Grande Oriente will undertake her maiden voyage on the Asia–Europe service, departing in the coming days from Taicang, China, bound for Portbury, United Kingdom, carrying 700 linear metres of rolling cargo and more than 6,200 cars.
From an environmental standpoint, the Grande Oriente has obtained the Ammonia Ready notation by the Italian Shipping Register (RINA), certifying that she can be converted to operate on ammonia as a zero carbon-emission alternative fuel. However, this is not the only green technology installed on board this highly innovative vessel, which is capable of reducing fuel consumption by 50% compared with earlier-generation car carriers.
Built to the highest sustainability and comfort standards, the Grande Oriente has been awarded Green Plus, Green Star 3, Comfort Vibration and Comfort Noise Port class notations.
The vessel is equipped with mega lithium batteries with a total capacity of 5 MWh and cold ironing capability, allowing her to draw electricity directly from shore where facilities are available. Both systems allow her to achieve zero emissions while in port.
She incorporates the most advanced energy-efficiency technologies, including 2,500 square metres of solar panels, silicon-based hull coatings to reduce resistance, and smart systems for optimising ventilation and air conditioning. Her electronically controlled engine features an exhaust gas cleaning system to reduce sulphur oxide (SOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions, and selective catalytic reduction to limit nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions below TIER III levels.
Additional innovations to minimize environmental impact include an Air Lubrication System, an optimized hull design, and an innovative gate rudder – installed for the first time on PCTC vessels – consisting of two foil-shaped blades positioned on either side of the propeller, enhances both propulsion efficiency and manoeuvrability.
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