Five new ammonia-ready PCTC (Pure Car & Truck Carrier) vessels have been ordered by the Grimaldi Group to expand its fleet. The vessels will be built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) and China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC).
The 200m-long vessels will have RINA’s Ammonia Ready class notation, which certifies that the ships may be converted to enable the use of ammonia as a zero-emission fuel. The vessels will be designed with the capability to accept shoreside power where infrastructure enables it to stop fossil fuels from being consumed in port.
In addition to being ready to make use of cleaner maritime fuels, the vessels will also be fitted with a new type of electronic engine which benefits from a specific consumption that is one of the lowest in its category. The vessels will also be fitted with emission abatement systems to ensure they comply with strict international limits for CO2 , NOx and SOx emissions.
Due to several design changes and the use of advanced engines and systems, the vessel’s CO2 emissions per cargo unit transported index are estimated to be 27% lower than the previous generation of ships.
The five vessels are scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2026, and will enter service with the Grimaldi Group on routes between Europe, North Africa, and the Near and Far East. Grimaldi has the option to order an additional two vessels, bringing the company’s total investment to over US$630m.