The Italian shipping company Grimaldi welcomed its new pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) “Grande Shanghai”. The vessel was built and delivered by China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) Haimen on 27th August.

The newbuild is the first of the ten PCTCs ordered from CMHI by Grimaldi to have a capacity of 9，000 CEU. The vessel measures 220 meters in length and 38 meters in width. It has fourteen decks capable of carrying both electric and fuel-powered vehicles.

The vessel has been awarded the “Ammonia Ready” notation by Italian classification society RINA， allowing for future conversion to ammonia fuel. Additionally， it has also been certified with Green Plus， Green Star 3， Comfort Vibration， and Comfort Noise Port class notation from RINA.

The vessel has been equipped with cutting-edge technologies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions. It has 5 MWh lithium-ion batteries， enabling hybrid operations， and features cold ironing capability， allowing connection to shore power during port calls. To boost onboard energy efficiency， the vessel features 2，500 m² of solar panels， along with smart ventilation and air conditioning controls.

Grande Shanghai has an electronically controlled main engine and has an exhaust cleaning system to reduce sulphur oxides. The vessel is equipped with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that meets IMO Tier III standards for nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

Among its most innovative features， the vessel is equipped with an air lubrication system and an optimized hull design， both of which reduce resistance through water. Notably， the Grande Shanghai is the first PCTC to feature a gate rudder system—two foil blades positioned on either side of the propeller， enhancing propulsion efficiency and maneuverability. A silicon-based hull coating reduces drag， contributing to lower fuel use.

The vessel is set to begin its maiden voyage on the East Asia–East Africa service， departing from the port of Taicang， China， in early September. It will make port calls at Mombasa， Kenya， and Dar es Salaam， Tanzania.