Grimaldi Group, a new green ship joins the fleet

The Grande Svezia, the second of 10 latest-generation Pctc (pure car & truck carrier) units ordered from China merchants heavy industries Jiangsu, has been delivered to the Grimaldi shipping group. The ship is 220 metres long and 38 metres wide, has a gross tonnage of 91,611 tonnes and a cruising speed of 18 knots. Like its sister ship, Grande Shanghai, which joined the fleet just under a month ago, on its 14 decks it can carry both electric and fossil-fuelled vehicles, for a maximum capacity of 9,000 CEUs (car equivalent units).

The Great Sweden is the fourth ammonia-ready vessel in the Grimaldi fleet and can therefore be converted to the use of ammonia as an alternative, carbon-free fuel. To zero emissions during port stops, the ship is equipped with mega lithium batteries with a total capacity of 5 megawatt hours, and is able to receive electricity from shore during port stops (cold ironing) in ports equipped with the necessary infrastructure..

The ship, group engineers explain, is also equipped with 2,500 square metres of solar panels, silicone paint to reduce drag, and smart ventilation and air conditioning control systems. The electronically controlled engine includes exhaust gas treatment to reduce emissions of sulphur oxides (S0x) and particulate matter (pm), and a selective catalytic reduction system for nitrogen oxides (N0x) below Tier III levels.

Further technological innovations, which help to further reduce its environmental impact, include an air lubrication system, an optimised hull design, and an innovative rudder, called gate rudder, installed for the first time on Pctc ships, consisting of two foil blades, positioned on either side of the propeller, which improve propulsive efficiency and manoeuvrability. Theship also achieved Green plus, Green star 3, Comfort vibration and Comfort noise port class notations. compared to previous generation car carriers, the ship is able to cut fuel consumption by 50%.

Great Sweden, says the group, takes its name from the nation that Grimaldi has regularly served for over three decades and in which it operates the country's only private port, located in Wallhamn. "With the entry of this unit," says CEO, Emanuele Grimaldi, "we achieve a further enhancement of our state-of-the-art car carrier fleet. Through this investment we want to continue to support the global car industry with increasingly modern, high-performance ships with a reduced environmental impact."