Grimaldi Group takes over “Grande Seoul”

The Grimaldi Group has taken delivery of the new Pure Car & Truck Carrier (PCTC) „Grande Seoul“ in Shanghai. The ship was built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company Limited (SWS) and China Shipbuilding Trading Company Limited (CSTC), both of which are part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC). With the „Grande Seoul,“ the Italian shipping company expands its fleet with the ninth ship prepared for future use of ammonia as an alternative, emission-free fuel.

The „Grande Seoul“ has a length of 200 m, a width of 38 m, and a gross tonnage of approximately 77,500 t. The ship is designed for the transport of vehicles, including electric cars and vehicles with conventional drives, as well as other rolling cargo. It can carry up to 9,241 Car Equivalent Units (CEU) and features four decks that can accommodate heavy loads of up to 250 t and heights of up to 6.5 m.

As with its sister ships, including the „Grande Tianjin“ and „Grande Auckland,“ the „Grande Seoul“ is distinguished not only by its high transport capacity but also by its advanced environmental performance. The CO₂ emission index per transported unit has been reduced by up to 50% compared to the previous generation of PCTC ships.

The ship is equipped with a modern electronic engine that has one of the lowest specific fuel consumption rates in its class and meets the strictest international limits for CO₂, NOx, and SOx emissions. Additionally, the Grande Seoul received the „Ammonia Ready“ classification from the Italian ship register RINA, meaning that a conversion to ammonia as an emission-free fuel is possible in the future. While at berth, the ship can also be supplied with shore power, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to the use of conventional fuels in port.

Named after the capital of South Korea, the „Grande Seoul“ honors a city that has been part of the Grimaldi Group’s global network since 2022. The company has since offered regular connections between Europe and South Korea in both directions and can connect South Korea to the world’s major trade routes thanks to an extensive network of over 150 ports in 60 countries.

In the coming days, the „Grande Seoul“ will leave China to begin its maiden voyage on the Asia-Europe route. The first journey will depart from Shanghai (Taicang) with a cargo of more than 6,200 cars and approximately 1,600 linear meters of other rolling freight to the ports of Antwerp (Belgium), Portbury (United Kingdom), and Vigo (Spain).

Emanuele Grimaldi, CEO of the Grimaldi Group, stated: „With the addition of the ship to our fleet, we strengthen our services for vehicle transport between Asia and the rest of the world.“ He emphasized that significant investments in modern units that combine transport capacity with high environmental performance enable increasingly efficient and sustainable services on intercontinental routes.

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