Grimaldi has added another ammonia-ready vessel to its fleet. The ship strengthens its vehicle transport services. She will soon sail on the East Asia–Persian Gulf route.
The company held the delivery ceremony on 28 November in Shanghai. Grande Istanbul is the fourth of seven new car carriers. SWS and CSTC built the vessel. Both shipyards belong to CSSC.
The vessel is 200 metres long. She is 38 metres wide. Her gross tonnage is about 77,500. She can carry 9,241 vehicles. Four decks also take rolling and heavy cargo. Individual loads can reach 250 tonnes.
Executives from SWS and Grimaldi attended the event. SANY also joined the ceremony. Chunyan Yuan acted as godmother. The role marked the strong partnership between SANY and Grimaldi.
The ship will depart from Taicang and Ningbo. She will load over 2,000 cars. She will also carry about 1,000 vans. The shipment includes heavy machinery and trailers. The cargo will arrive in Jebel Ali.
The name honours the city of Istanbul. Grimaldi runs regular services to Turkey. Its vessels call at several Turkish ports.
The vessel uses a modern electronic engine. The engine lowers fuel consumption. It cuts emissions. The design improves efficiency. CO₂ output per car falls by up to 50%.
RINA awarded the “Ammonia Ready” notation. The ship can convert to ammonia fuel. She also supports shore power. This cuts emissions in port.
Emanuele Grimaldi confirmed the company’s strategy. He said new ships improve service quality. He added they support sustainability. He said they strengthen trade with Asia.
