The Grimaldi Group, SWS and Leapmotor celebrate the delivery of the Grande Tianjin

From mid-August, this ammonia-ready 9,241 CEU vessel will be deployed to enhance vehicle transport services on the East Asia - Northern Europe route.

Shanghai/Naples, 8 August 2025: This morning, celebrations took place in the port of Shanghai for the official naming and delivery of the Grimaldi Group’s vessel Grande Tianjin. This event marked a milestone not only for the Italian shipping company but also for Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company Limited (SWS) and Leapmotor International.

The Grande Tianjin is the first of seven state-of-the-art PCTC (Pure Car & Truck Carrier) vessels commissioned by the Grimaldi Group from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company Limited (SWS) and China Shipbuilding Trading Company Limited (CSTC) – two companies part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC). Her delivery marks the 600^th vessel constructed by SWS – a remarkable achievement that underscores the shipyard’s long-standing expertise, commitment to quality, and pivotal role in advancing maritime innovation.

This event also signals the beginning of an even deeper strategic partnership between the Grimaldi Group and Leapmotor. In fact, in a few days, the Grande Tianjin will depart from Shanghai bound for Northern Europe, carrying her inaugural cargo – which includes, among other Leapmotor vehicles, 1,000 brand-new electric SUVs.

Event highlights

Today’s event was attended, among others, by Chen Gang, President of SWS, Tianshu Xin, CEO of Leapmotor International, and Luigi Pacella Grimaldi, Automotive Intercontinental Director of the Grimaldi Group.

Leapmotor Vice President, Ms. Zhou Ying acted as the godmother of the vessel, emphasizing the growing importance of the partnership between the car manufacturer and the Grimaldi Group.

“Grande Tianjin is the first collaboration between SWS and the Grimaldi Group, as well as SWS first 9,000 CEU PCTC. To ensure the successful delivery of this project, all teams worked in close coordination. Upon verification, the vessel’s performance data fully meet the design specifications, and its quality has been highly recognized by all parties”, said Chen Gang.

“China’s EV innovation is sailing to the world, and Leapmotor is proud to be at the helm of this movement,” said Tianshu Xin. “Today, with great partners such as Grimaldi, our presence spans more than 30 countries, with over 1,500 sales and service outlets worldwide, cumulative deliveries exceeding 800,000 smart EVs”.

“The delivery of the Grande Tianjin by SWS marks a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainable and efficient vehicle transport across key global routes, especially those connecting Asia to the rest of the world,” stated Grimaldi Group Managing Director Emanuele Grimaldi. “In recent years, we have made significant investments to strengthen our shipping connections with China and the broader Asian area. Top-tier car manufacturers like Leapmotor continue to place their trust in us, and we remain dedicated to exceeding their high expectations while adapting to their evolving needs.”

Vessel features

With a length of 200 meters, a beam of 38 meters, and a gross tonnage of approximately 77,500 tons, the Grande Tianjin has been designed for the transport of vehicles (cars, SUVs, vans, etc.), both electric and powered by traditional fuels, as well as any other type of rolling cargo. Specifically, she 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.

The vessel is among the first equipped with a MAN B&W 7S60 ME-C10.6-HPSCR TIER II–TIER III electronic engine, which offers one of the lowest specific fuel consumptions in its class. It 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 Tianjin reduces the CO₂ emissions index per transported cargo by up to 50% compared to previous-generation PCTC vessels.

Additionally, she 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.

Strengthened partnership between Grimaldi and Leapmotor

The Grimaldi Group has been a logistics partner of Leapmotor since 2022, providing 22,500 CEU (Car Equivalent Units) of secure vehicle handling capacity per month from Asia to Europe.

For the first seven months of 2025, Leapmotor posted a combined domestic sales and export volume of 271,793 units, making Leapmotor China’s Top1 NEV start-up brand. Leapmotor International’s sales and service footprint exceeds 1,500 sales and service outlets in over 30 markets.

The Grimaldi Group’s strategically distributed network on a global scale enables comprehensive geographical coverage and significant reduction in distribution costs through streamlined routing and consolidated connections. Notably, adaptability on the services connecting various Asian ports to the rest of the world is ensured through a fleet of over 20 PCTC and con/ro vessels, offering scalable capacity and efficient prioritization tailored to shifting logistics demands.

The Grande Tianjin will be deployed on the East Asia-Northern Europe service. She is the first of 17 ammonia-ready PCTC vessels ordered by the Grimaldi Group from Chinese shipyards, with the remaining 16 scheduled for delivery starting from late August 2025 up to 2027. Overall, this major fleet investment will allow the Group to expand its coverage in key global markets, improve operational efficiency, and better meet the evolving logistics needs of its customer base.