Grimaldi Group has taken delivery of Grande Manila, the seventh and final vessel of the Italy-based shipping firm’s ammonia-ready PCTCs on order at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) and China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC).
In line with its sister vessels, the 77,500 GT Grande Manila measures 200 m in length, has a 38 m beam. The vessel has a loading capacity of 9,241 ceu, with four decks also capable of carrying other rolling cargo – including loads of up to 250 tonnes and as high as 6.5 m.
The vessel’s name is a nod the contributions made to the global shipping industry by the Philippines, as well as to Grimaldi’s recently launched bi-monthly service that connects China with the port of Batangas.
Grande Manila’s maiden voyage will be on the carrier’s Asia–Europe service. It will depart from Taicang, China, carrying over more than 5,800 cars and 1,300 linear m of other rolling cargo, which will be delivered to the UK, Spain and Belgium. Following transhipment at Grimaldi’s Antwerp hub, the vessel will head to other destinations in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, before sailing back to China.
Grande Manila joins Grande Istanbul, Grande Melbourne, Grande Auckland and Grande Tianjin, with two of the seven-strong PCTC vessels still to join Grimaldi’s fleet.
