Grande Istanbul: Grimaldi's New Car Carrier Christened And Delivered

Another ammonia-ready vessel joins the Italian Group's fleet to strengthen its vehicle transport services. Her maiden voyage on the regular East Asia–Persian Gulf service will begin shortly.

Naples, 1 December 2025

On 28 November in Shanghai, the christening and delivery ceremony of the Grande Istanbul was held. This is the fourth of seven ammonia-ready Pure Car & Truck Carriers (PCTCs) ordered from the SWS (Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company Limited) and CSTC (China Shipbuilding Trading Company Limited) shipyards - both part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC).

With a length of 200 meters, a beam of 38 meters, and a gross tonnage of approximately 77,500 tons, the Grande Istanbul has been designed for the efficient transport of vehicles (cars, SUVs, vans, etc.), both electric and powered by traditional fuels, as well as any other type of rolling cargo. The vessel has a loading capacity of 9,241 CEU (Car Equivalent Units), with four decks also capable of carrying other rolling cargo, including heavy loads of up to 250 tons and as high as 6.5 meters.


Grande Melbourne naming and delivery.   Image by Grimaldi Group

Attending the christening and delivery ceremony were, among others, Zhang Wei, Vice President of SWS, Luigi Pacella Grimaldi, Automotive Intercontinental Director of the Grimaldi Group, and representatives of SANY, a Chinese producer of heavy machinery and equipment for construction, mining, infrastructure and other industries, which relies on the Grimaldi Group's transport services from China to various ports in Africa, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Persian Gulf. As evidence of an increasingly solid and significant partnership, Chunyan Yuan, Vice President of SANY Group, attended the event as the godmother of the Grande Istanbul.

The new vessel is already ready for her maiden voyage on the Grimaldi Group's regular East Asia–Persian Gulf service. In the coming days, from the Chinese ports of Taicang and Ningbo, over 2,000 cars, around 1,000 vans and 4,800 linear metres of other rolling cargo (including cranes, trailers, trucks, excavators and breakbulk cargo) will be shipped to Jebel Ali, in the United Arab Emirates.

"We are proud that our investments in new vessels are translating into enhanced services and value for customers like SANY, with whom we continue to grow, driven by efficiency and sustainability," said Emanuele Grimaldi, Managing Director of the Grimaldi Group. "With large, modern, and environmentally friendly units like the Grande Istanbul, we are making a concrete contribution to the development of key trades such as those to and from Asia, responding to the growing demand for reliable and high-quality connections."

More about the Grande Istanbul
The name Grande Istanbul pays tribute to one of Turkey's major cities. For years, the Grimaldi Group's vessels have been calling at various Turkish ports (Ambarli, Autoport, Derince, Gemlik, Izmir, and Yenikoy) as part of regular services dedicated to the transport of vehicles and other rolling cargo in the Mediterranean and to/from Northern Europe.

The vessel is equipped with a state-of-the-art electronic engine, which offers one of the lowest specific fuel consumptions in its class and complies with the most stringent international limits for CO₂ NOx, and SOx emissions.

In particular, thanks to her size - which maximizes loading capacity - proven ship design, innovative features, and state-of-the-art systems, the Grande Istanbul reduces the CO₂ emissions index per transported cargo by up to 50% compared to previous-generation PCTC vessels.

Additionally, the Grande Istanbul has received the "Ammonia Ready" class notation from RINA (Italian Naval Register), certifying that she can be converted in the future to use ammonia as a zero-carbon alternative fuel. She is also equipped for shore power supply during berthing (cold ironing), which, where available, provides a green alternative to the use of traditional fuels while docked in port.


Grande Melbourne naming and delivery.   Image by Grimaldi Group

The Grimaldi Group, headquartered in Naples, operates a fleet of over 130 vessels and employs approximately 21,000 people. Wholly owned by the Grimaldi family, it is a multinational logistics Group specialized in the operation of roll-on/roll-off vessels, car carriers and ferries. It comprises seven shipping companies, namely: Grimaldi Deep Sea, operating in the transport of rolling cargo and containers on the Atlantic routes and between the Mediterranean and West Africa; Grimaldi Euromed, specialists in the transport of rolling freight in Europe, in the Motorways of the Sea and in passenger transport in the Mediterranean with the Grimaldi Lines brand; Atlantic Container Line, which offers transport services for containers and rolling cargo between North America and Northern Europe; Malta Motorways of the Sea, whose vessels connect Malta to the main ports in the Mediterranean; Minoan Lines, operating in Greek cabotage for the transport of freight and passengers; Finnlines, carrying freight and passengers in the North and Baltic Sea; and Trasmed GLE, active in the transport of freight and passengers between mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands.

These maritime connections are the core of an advanced logistics chain, which includes port terminals and road transport companies. The 20-plus ports and terminals owned/operated by the Grimaldi Group are located in 13 countries: Italy, Spain, Greece, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, Egypt, Cameroon, Nigeria and Benin. Most of these terminals are fitted with Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) facilities, warehouses and workshops.

Grimaldi Group press release